The Imo State Government says it is poised to extend the World Bank assisted Community and Social Development Projects (CSDP) to the 637 communities of the State by ensuring that both the State government and the Communities pay N400 million and N1 million respectively as counterpart funds to the Agency.
Making the assurance in a meeting held with the World Bank Sector Leader and Traditional Rulers in the State, the Governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha expressed satisfaction at some of the projects the Agency has executed in few communities of the State adding that it is a worthwhile venture that will strengthen the Community Government Council and boost developmental projects in the communities of the State.
Owelle Okorocha urged the World Bank to continue its intervention programmes in the State, not forgetting to encourage agriculture especially the palm planting and other projects capable of sustaining economic development.
Speaking earlier, the World Bank Sector Leader in charge of the Community and Social Development Projects, Mr. Foluso Okunmadewa explained that the CSDP provides funds to communities for micro project which they monitor and supervise in partnership with the Community Government Council that provides the oversight.
He explained that already, about 160 projects worth N200 million have been completed ranging from classroom blocks to electricity supply, health centres, markets, halls and other needed facilities as requested by communities that remit their counterpart funds. He cited the example at Owerri North where a community initiated a project to remove flooding from their environment and over 100 houses were rescued and lives saved.
Mr Okunmadewa said more projects will be implemented as soon as the State government and the Community Government Council (CGC) pay their counterpart funds to World Bank thereby solidifying the collaboration between the CGC and CSDP.
He explained that the process ensures that after three years, the Agency hands over the ownership of the projects to the respective communities.
Contributing, some of the Traditional Rulers whose communities have benefitted from the project confirmed that each community contributed N1 million while World Bank brought N9 million to build three major projects in the community under direct labour and thanked Governor Okorocha for his determination to sustain the programme.
In a similar development, Governor Okorocha has thanked the Traditional Rulers in the State for being supportive of the Rescue Mission government and its programmes: ‘’you have firmly shown that you love me, God bless you;’’ he prayed.
The Governor informed the Royal Fathers of the dissolution of the Community Government Council Officials who were also directed to immediately hand over to them and the Civil Servants until the end of the forthcoming election when new Officials will be constituted.
He therefore charged them to maintain peace and orderliness in their respective communities and ensure a free and fair conduct of the CGC election holding simultaneously in the LGAs on Saturday, 8th March 2014.
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