By Chuks Onuoha
Not less than 23 Abia communities have been ear-marked as those that will enjoy project funds that have been approved by the State Governor, Dr Alex Otti, through Abia State Agency for Community and Social Development. The Communities were picked up from ten Local Governments which earlier submitted their most important needs for approval.
This was disclosed at a training organised for the representatives of the Communities at Bishop Nwedo’s Centre, along BCA Road, Umuahia.
Speaking at the event, Governor Otti, who was represented by Rev Fr. Christian Anokwuru, his Special Adviser on Policies and Interventions, said he was in a hurry to develop every part of the State.
Also, the General Manager, Abia state Agency for Community and Social Development Project, Ekejiuba Ekpo, in his own speech, said that the Agency would carry out strict monitoring and evaluation of the construction of the projects in the communities to ensure that the funds given to the communities are not embezzled or fraudulently diverted.
According to him, Abia State Government is contributing 95% of the funds while the benefitting communities are contributing 5% counterpart fund even as he said that community development officers from LGAs have been deployed to also monitor the projects.
He noted that Governor Alex Otti is interested in developing every part of the state, especially the rural communities where basic amenities are lacking.
The General Manager who tasked the members of the Project Monitoring Committee to ensure transparency, accountability and dedication, warned that the funds would be thoroughly audited to ensure that it tallied with the quality of jobs executed.
The 23 benefitting communities are Amaeke-Alayi, Uhabiri, Ohokobe, Umuode Nsulu, Ndiaku, Ugwunagbo, Ogbuebele, Oria Na Agu, Abala and Nunya.
Others are Avonkwu, Ndiokereke Abam, Amaeke Isiegbu, Ajata Okwuru, Umuodeche , Ndiudumukwu, Nsukwe, Amato Isingwu and Umuawa Alaocha.
The rest are Umuajiji Isieke, Mbato Ofoeme and Mbom Afarata communities.
The projects, which must be kick-started within two weeks of disbursement of fund, include primary health centres, water boreholes, reconstruction of school buildings.