IFAD Down-sizes Projects In Rivers

About 18 out of 27 com munities benefiting from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) integrated agricultural and rural development projects in Rivers State were downsized due to the inability of the local government councils to pay counterpart funds between January and June, this year.

Also, six out of the initial nine local government areas in the state were affected in the downsizing exercise of the IFAD projects within the period under review.

This figure was disclosed during the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Federal Government (FG) and Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) 3rd Supervision Mission in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, recently.

The Tide gathered that the affected communities were Idoke, Okporomini and Ikata in Ahoada East LGA; Bianu, Luawii and Duburo in Khana LGA; Bolo, Ikpokiri and Wakama in Ogu/Bolo LGA.

Others include Ogbogu, Ohali-Eli and Osiakpu in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni LGA; Gbam, Ban-Ogoi and Ueken in Tai LGA; and Ogida, Egbeke and Akwa in Etche LGA respectively.

The Tide further gathered that communities and local government areas in the state presently benefiting from the IFAD agricultural projects are Jumbo-Isheliogono, Burukiri and Kuruama in Bonny LGA, Apani, Ozuaha and Ubima in Ikwerre LGA and Iwoma Nkoro, Epellema and Kalabiama in Opobo-Nkoro LGA.

The supervision mission, therefore, stressed the need for the local government authorities in the state to pay the contractual agreement in order to be re-listed in the projects in the Niger Delta region expected to be terminated in 2014.

The Tide understood that the IFAD assisted Community Based Natural Resource Management Programme (CBNRRMP) in the Niger Delta is aimed at improving the livelihood and living condition of at least 400,000 rural poor people with emphasis on women and youths in the region.

Speaking in an interview with The Tide immediately after the supervision mission, the National Coordinator of CBNRMP, Mrs. Irene Jumbo-Ibeakuzie said that the refusal of local government councils to pay counterpart fund was hampering effective implementation of the projects in the state within the period under reference.

Isaac Nwankwo