C’River Spends N2.7b To Fund 910 Micro Projects

The Cross River State Government through the State Community and Social Development Agency has disbursed over N2.7b to fund 910 multisectorial, poverty reduction focused micro projects in 328 indigent communities and vulnerable groups across the state.

The General Manager of the agency, Mr Fidel Udie who disclosed this said the disbursement underscored the sustained commitment of the state government towards poverty reduction for a period of 12 years (2009-2021). 

The agency was established to implement the World Bank assisted Community and Social Development Project which was a development partnership between participating states and the World Bank.

Its goal was to improve the human capital development.

The breakdown of the Project implementation schedule released by the agency shows that 36.46 percent of the funds amounting to N1.005b was disbursed by the agency to support 215 micro projects in the education sector. 

Also, 21.55 percent of the grants accounting for N594.4m was disbursed to support 157 micro projects in the health sector including construction, furnishing and equipping of health post with staff quarters.

In the water sector, N388.06m representing 14 percent was disbursed as grants to support 154 micro projects such as construction of solar powered boreholes with reticulation. 

In the environment sector, the agency disbursed N179.5m as grants accounting for 6.51 percent to support 164 micro projects such as construction of VIP toilet to discourage open defecation, etc.

Other micro projects included the construction of 123 mini bridges and culverts in the transport sector and the construction of several market stalls and skills centre in the socioeconomic sector while there were also micro projects supported in electricity and community housing sectors. 

The giant strides, Udie noted, “was made possible by the tremendous support of successive governments and particularly Governor Ben Ayade administration which ensured that funds were made available to enable the agency effectively conduct her operations. For instance, on assumption of office as Governor in 2015, His Excellency Sen. Ayade, approved and released the needed N150m government contribution to the Project. Since mid-2019 he also ensured the release of 0.5 percent monthly statutory deduction from the Local Government account to the agency.”

Cross River State had assisted 328 communities and vulnerable groups to implement 910 micro projects in various sectors across the state.

The state also came first as the state with highest government contribution nationally.

The state government had contributed over 1.676 billion naira to the agency within 12 years. 

According to Udie, 99 percent of the 917 approved and funded micro projects were completed and currently in use.

The state had disbursed 179.5 million naira to support the construction of 164 micro projects in the environment sector such as Ventilated Improved Toilet to discourage open defecation and the construction of drainages to reclaim land lost by erosion.

The agency would be one of the delivery units of the Nigeria COVID 19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) Programme billed to commence in July, 2021.

The Agency which has been categorized in Result Area 1 of the Programme would be seen fulfilling the activities of Disbursement Linked Indicator 1.4 which focuses on improving access of the poor and vulnerable to social infrastructure services.