…As Honourable Agba Commissions Rural Projects for Benin, Ijaw Communities
The Federal government has been commended by the residents of Agbamogba Ikoro, Obazuwa, Igo, Obagie Ikpalia and Ibian, in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State, for its intervention in bringing development to the communities through its Integrated Rural Development initiative.
The residents who are beneficiaries of newly constructed 19km road network and Bridge, community borehole, ultra modern market, among others, appreciated the Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Ikanade Agba for facilitating developmental projects for the benefits of residents of the areas.
Speaking during the commissioning of the federal government developmental projects for the Ijaw and Benin communities of Edo State, over the weekend, the Minister also appreciated the community for the support given to the present administration since inception to date and for cooperating with the contractors of the various projects commissioned.
He said that he was glad that the government was able to put smiles on the faces of residents of the area, saying that the gesture represents President Buhari’s desire to make life meaningful for the vulnerable ones in the society through implementation of impactful projects.
Agba listed the projects commissioned to include 50,000 litres bore hole in Agbonmoba community in Ovia North East LGA, 19km rural road serving Ikoro, Obazuwa, Igo, Obagie Ikpalia and Ibian communities and Aden bridge in Aden community, Ikoro market with modern facilities and rural electrification project, among others.
According to him, the projects commissioned are part of efforts by the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to promote integrated rural development in order to lessen the sufferings of Nigerians living in different rural communities across the country in line with the federal government’s national development plans.
The Minister recalled that the initiatives of the bore hole, market construction, community Street Light, among others were contained in the 2021 to 2025 National Development Plan approved by the present administration.
He stated that the projects were handled by three agencies of government, the street lighting was handled by Rural Electricity Agency, the Water project by the Benin Owena River Basin Development Authority while the Rural Development section of the Ministry of Agriculture handled the market construction.
Explaining the roles of the Ministry of Budget and National Planning in the projects, the Minister stated that the Ministry, guides the federal government in initiating and implementing programs that will help address poverty, especially at the grassroots, being the Ministry in charge of coordinating the country’s economy.
He used the opportunity of the commissioning to plead with State Governors and Chairmen of LGAs to complement the efforts of the federal government in the area of community development.
His words, “Being the closest government to the populace at the community levels, our State Governors and Chairman of Local Government Areas must assume responsibility for development at the grassroots as the federal government alone cannot bring about all round development of in all parts of the State.
Speaking on the new road constructed, the Minister said that the Rural road construction was meant to create access road for farmers to transport their goods to markets, thereby preventing wastages and post-harvest losses of farm produce occasioned by bad roads and inaccessibility.
Agba told the beneficiaries of the projects that it is expected that the community members take ownership of the project, so that subsequent administration can be encouraged to implement more developmental projects instead of spending resources in renovating old projects due to poor maintenance by the beneficiaries.
In the same vein, the Honourable Minister, during his visit for the commissioning, inspected some sections of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and the Psychiatric Hospital in Benin City, where intervention funds released by President Muhammadu Buhari led administration was spent.
He disclosed that with the economic sustainability plan, the federal government had reached out to 52 federal tertiary health centres, adding that the government also established a world class centre for cancer treatment in LUTH, Lagos as a way of encouraging local treatment and management of cancer.
He said the sum of Nine hundred and fifty million naira (N950m) was made available to each of the 52 tertiary health centres in the country by the Buhari administration for upgrade of the health facilities.
Olude Omolade
Principal Information Officer
For: Director, Information (BNP)
