Gov Ugwuanyi advises traditional rulers, community leaders on World Bank projects

Moses Oyediran, Enugu

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State has made fresh call on traditional rulers and Community Leaders in the State to make judicious use of funds provided to them by the World Bank and the state government for development of infrastructural facilities in their areas. Ugwuanyi made the call yesterday through his State Commissioner for Rural Development, Chief Gabriel Onuzuliki, during a formal presentation of first tranche of money to the people of Enugu-Owelli in Awgu Local Government Area of the state for the building of Health Centre in the community. The governor noted that the community driven projects which had been extended to many villages in the state are being done by the World Bank in collaboration with the State and local government councils, stressing that the Agency for Community and Social Development Project (CSDP) was charged with the responsibility of evaluating and monitoring the projects to their completion. According to him, the projects were conceived by the beneficiary communities according to their needs, adding that the state had no problem in keying into the World Bank projects because development of rural communities is one of the four-point agenda of the present administration in the state. “Make judicious use of the fund provided to you. We will not tolerate fraud of any kind. And on our part, we will continue to provide the counter-part fund required from us. This government is a people-oriented regime that places the welfare of the people at heart”, he added. Earlier, the General Manger of the CSDP, Dr Maximus Asogwa, told the people that they were fortunate to be part of the beneficiaries of the projects which he would help to reduce to a large extent the growing poverty in the land. Dr Asogwa who had earlier visited Uno-Neke and Amube in Isi-Uzo and Igboeze North Local Government Areas, respectively, where he equally present first tranche of project fund to the people, said he was happy to be given the opportunity to serve in this humanitarian work, adding that Governor Ugwuanyi should be commended for keying into the World Bank project. The CSDP boss, who noted that the three communities visited so far would embark on construction of civic centre, market stalls, extension of electricity, building of classroom blocks and construction of road, revealed that they had received between N1.1m and N2.2m as first tranche, adding that the programme allowed release of funds in three bits for probity and accountability. At Uno-Neke, Amube and Enugu-Owelli communities, there were jubilation as they came out in large number to welcome their visitors, entertaining them with cultural dance and songs. All the speakers at various events noted that there were neglected by the successive regimes, commending the state governor for coming to their rescue through the provision of infrastructural facilities, assuring him (Governor Ugwuanyi) of backing his re-election bid next month. Igwe Basil Udeani, traditional ruler of Enugu-Owelli community remarked, “I am happy and feel fulfilled for being alive to see government presence in my community. This is the first government project in my community. I am grateful to our governor for the provision of infrastructure in the area. We are going to reciprocate his marvelous work by voting him en-masse during the forthcoming elections. I promise that the first woman to deliver a baby in this health centre will be given N5,000.00. I also assure you that we are going to protect the facilities here” “We are delighted over the project. We have received N5m from the government like other communities in the state and today we are getting N10m World Bank project. We also thank the Commissioner for aiding us in all these areas”, the President-General of the community, Evangelist Gabriel Udeh added. The high point of the occasion of was the formal presentation of cheque to the community leaders by the state commissioner.