In line with the agreement with the World Bank, Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State has approved N400 million for the extension of the Community Social Development Project (CSDP) programme in the state.
The project will benefit no fewer than 1000 more rural communities, Secretary to the State Government, Ndako Idris Kpaki, said on Thursday.
He was speaking while declaring open impact assessment and evaluation validation workshop organised by CSDP for stakeholders in Minna.
The SSG, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Economic Affairs, Umaru Sanda, disclosed that government decided to extend the programme to ensure that people have access to services and human development.
According to Kpaki, over 1000 communities were on the waiting list, despite the afct that many communities have benefited from the World Bank-assisted programme.
“Government understands that more communities have expressed interest in the CSDP intervention and we believe that the extension of the project will avail the comm8mnites the opportunity of not only mastering community project implementation but also the chance to be acquainted with leadership challenges”, he said.
Garba Baba, General Manager of CSDP in Niger state, said the sum of N878m has been disbursed under the programme while 166 macro projects were initiated in 56 communities out of which 118 projects have been completed.