Ebonyi Approves Over N5.2bn For Empowerments, Community Projects

Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki

The Ebonyi State Government has approved over N5.2bn for empowerments of farmers, petty traders and social development projects in rural communities in the state.
Briefing newsmen on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting, the commissioner for Information and State Orientation in the state, Jude Okpor also disclosed that the state government also approved N450million as consultancy services and designing of a Boulevard in the state.

He noted that the council approved two billion, six hundred and twenty million Naira (N2,620,000,000) for Ebonyi State Community and Social Development Agency (EBCSDA) to embark on social development projects in 100 communities that are yet to benefit from the agency’s intervention across the state.
Okpor said: “Sequel to a joint memo by the Honourable Commissioners for Human Capital Development, Commerce and Industry, and Agriculture and Natural Resources, EXCO resolved and approved the following:

“Two billion, six hundred and twenty million Naira (N2,620,000,000) for Ebonyi State Community and Social Development Agency (EBCSDA) to embark on social development projects in 100 communities that are yet to benefit from the Agency’s intervention across the state. The Agency was also mandated to pay the labour-intensive workers across the 13 LGAs.
“N500 million naira to Ebonyi State Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (EBSMEDA) for the Empowerment of 10,000 Ebonyians.
“N2.12bn approved for empowerment of farmers through FADAMA and other projects, to boost agricultural production in the state, especially in this farming season”.

The commissioner said that the council also approved the revamping of moribund rice-mills in the three senatorial zones of the state and directed the release of the sum of ten million naira each in the three rice mill clusters for the revamping.
Okpor said: “following earlier approval of the design for the Nnodo Ekumenyi Boulevard, the Council approved the sum of four hundred and fifty million Naira (N450,000,000) only for both the design and consultancy services.

“In a related development, the sum of seventy million Naira (N70,000,000) for the redesign of the trade centre was also approved for release by the council. This sum also covers consultancy services for the project.