Abia Earmarks N.5b As Counterpart Fund With World Bank

Abia Earmarks N.5b As Counterpart Fund With World Bank

Abia State government has earmarked N.5b as counterpart fund with the Word Bank for the execution of various projects including roads, drainage and erosion control. The state Coordinator of the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project, Abia New Map, Mr. Izuchukwu Onwughara stated this yesterday in Umuahia, the capital. The coordinator said since 2015 the present administration in the state has also paid over N.35m for similar purposes and has remained up to date in its contributions to the fund. Onwughara disclosed that the bank has approved the design of the Urratta-Umuagbai-Obohia underground drainage system and road construction as Phase 1 of the projects. He said the Phase 2 which has also been approved include Dodds Catherderal Junction, Ogudu Asaa-Umunnekwu, and Elu-Amuke erosion sites in Uzuakoli, Isuikwuato, and Ohafia respectively. He explained that as part of its effort to tackle environmental challenges in the state, the government has mobilized a reputable indegenous contractor to complete the Amuda-Ahara project. Explaining that the Phase 1 will be flagged-off by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu later in the year, the coordinator commended the relationship between the state and the bank. Meanwhile, the coordinator has paid the Director-General (DG) of the Broadcasting Corporation of Abia (BCA), Chief Uchenna Dike a courtesy visit in his office in the capital. Speaking during the visit, Onwughara maintained that apart from paying the counterpart funds, the government has also liquidated all interests it owed the bank. He equally noted that the New Map is also into community relations programmes for rural communities and appreciated the quality efforts of the DG in the discharge of his duties. In his response, Dike said the BCA would not relent in promoting and publicizing the efforts of the administration geared towards the development of the state and the people. He appreciated Ikpeazu for being the brain behind the successes the New Map and other agencies have recorded in the state, stressing that the coordinator should remain focused.

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