By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
Federal government has commissioned 19 kilometers of road and three water projects in Ikoro and Agbomoba communities of Ovia North East area of Edo State. Solar-powered street lights and markets were also commissioned in the two communities.
Speaking at the commissioning, the Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba said the projects are part of measures by the Federal government to ensure integrated rural development across the country.
The minister explained that the projects are part of the national development plan 2021 to 2025 of the Buhari-led administration. The National Plan places emphasis on integrated rural development to alleviate the sufferings of the vulnerable poor in Nigeria.
According to him, the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) handled the solar-powered street lights, the Benin/Owena River Basin handled the three water projects, while the rural development component of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture handled the markets and toilets facilities, the solar-street lights within the markets and the 19 kms of road which cut across five other communities.
The Minister said, “These projects are targeted at eradicating poverty by providing the basic social amenities for the rural poor”.
Prince Agba urged governors of the various states of the federation to also extend the provision of basic amenities to rural areas rather than concentrate all their efforts in the state capitals.
“I am not saying that they should abandon the state capitals, but what we are saying is to extend part of the development to the rural areas to alleviate their sufferings. They are entitled to these basic amenities because they also vote during elections.
“Just look at these communities, before today, there was no water, no road and no light and there is still no school as you have heard from them. We believe that no one should go beyond two to three kilometres to access medical facilities”.
Agba who blamed the governors for Nigeria’s 133 million multi-dimensionally poverty rate in Nigeria, added that more Nigerians are poor because they have been deprived of access to education, water and good healthcare.
“What the federal government intervention has done is to provide livelihoods to the vulnerable poor in the rural areas by embarking on these projects,” the minister stated.
While commending the government intervention in provision of facilities to rural areas, chairman of Ikoro community, Mr Johnson Ikpewe on behalf of the traditional ruler, Chief Bright Owu, thanked the federal government for the kind gesture.
Owu, who appealed to the minister to help in building a school in the community, also commended the Minister for the completion of the laudable projects in the community.
