Three LGAs Benefit From World Bank-Assisted Projects

Three local government areas in Delta State have benefitted from the community-driven development social component projects, under the World Bank-assisted State Employment Expenditure for Results (SEEFOR) programme.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Community and Social Development, Chief Betty Efekodha, made this known in an interview in Asaba.

Efekodha said the projects were markets, health centres, water schemes, electricity, earth and link roads as well as building/renovation of classroom blocks.

She said the local government areas were Ndokwa West, Isoko South and Ughelli North, adding that three communities benefitted from each of the councils.

The commissioner said that each community got N10 million project, and that for a community to benefit, it was required to contribute 10 per cent counterpart fund.

Efekodha said the programme domiciled in the ministry, adding that the interventionist strategy was aimed at addressing unemployment and poverty.

She explained that the objective of the programme was to increase the rural dwellers’ accessibility to social amenities and infrastructures through the channeling of funds directly to eligible communities.

The commissioner said that the communities were expected to embark on any micro-project which they would execute, maintain and sustain by themselves.

On criteria for selecting the beneficiaries, she said the projects were spread to the three senatorial districts of the state.

She said another criterion was that for a council to benefit, it must be willing to establish a project review committee and fund its activities.

The commissioner added that the benefitting councils must also be willing to assist in the running cost of the projects in order to ensure sustainability and effective service delivery.