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Tag: rural

  • Reps to prioritise infrastructural development in rural communities

    Reps to prioritise infrastructural development in rural communities

    The House of Representatives said on Tuesday that it would do everything possible to ensure that rural dwellers in the country enjoy the dividends of democracy.

    Chairman of the House Committee on Rural Development, Hon. Marcus Onobun who spoke at the inaugural meeting of the committee reiterated the House commitment towards improving infrastructure in the rural areas across the country.

    Onobun who is a former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly who spoke on the importance of the committee described it as one that directly affects the 360 members of the house “as we all represent rural communities.

    “In fact, it is important to note that it is the constituents of these rural areas that chose us to represent them in order for them to enjoy the dividends of democracy.

    “If you look closely at the composition of all the committees, you’ll discover that this Committee is one of the few that has exceeded the membership number of 40 prescribed by the House. This goes to show the importance of the committee.

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    “In discharging their functions, previous chairmen of this Committee were severely hampered and restricted to certain MDAs but I will be doing things a little differently in order for us to collectively achieve our objectives and also make meaningful impact in the lives of millions of Nigerians who reside in the rural areas.

    “Before I| proceed, I’ll like us to familiarize ourselves with the scope of this committee and areas of its oversight functions by looking at the standing orders of the House of Representatives Order 20 95(d) which clearly defines our scope and purview thus setting the tone for defining our aims and objectives.

    “I am willing to draw from your wealth of legislative, business and individual expertise in discharging my duties so we can collectively deliver on the arduous task that has been laid on our shoulders.”

  • Advisory board to assist govt in rural development’

    Advisory board to assist govt in rural development’

    Lagos State Community Development Advisory Council has been  inaugurated to coordinate and execute community projects, and ensure compliance with policies and programmes.

    Special Adviser to the governor on Rural Development, Nurudeen Yekini-Agbaje, said the council will propagate information on government activities.

    Yekini-Agbaje reiterated government is interested in growth and development of rural areas, and so would continue to attend to their needs.

    He said: “Restoring the Office of Rural Development to the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development is a pointer to the fact Mr Governor is interested in development of rural communities.

    To the executive committee, Yekini-Agbaje said: “Your function is to advise government on matters relating to development and progress of communities. Be committed in this assignment…”

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    The Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Kikelomo Bolarinwa, described the election as a demonstration of ‘collective efforts through the sacrifice of engaging in community development’.

    She noted CDAs act as a bridge between government and people, to propagate government’s plans to the people. 

    “They are also to bring their challenges to the government because it is difficult for government to meet with individuals. So, the council proffers advice and suggest ways to reach these communities.

    “One great achievement is to truly serve people. I salute those of us coming forward…’’

    develop our communities, it is indeed taking Lagos to an enviable level,” she added.

    The election produced Alhaji Azeez Amusat as chairman. He polled 105 votes.

  • Ondo secures World Bank support for 700km rural roads

    Ondo secures World Bank support for 700km rural roads

    Ondo state government said it has secured €3.5 million and about $500,000 from the World Bank for the rapid transformation of rural communities across the state.lap

    It said the fund included N1.5bn counterpart funding would be used to construct 700km of rural roads under Rural Access and Marketing Project (RAAMP), a World Bank-assisted programme.

    The special adviser to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on Rural and Community Development, Kolawole Babatunde, disclosed this in Akure at the weekend at an interactive session with Correspondents Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ondo State.

    Babatunde, who represented Akoko South East/Akoko South West Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives between 2015-2019, said the rural roads would be constructed in phases and funded through World Bank and the state counterpart fund.

    He said the state government keyed into RAAMP for ease of transporting agricultural products to prevent frequent spoilage of farm produce, abd tackle food scarcity as well as grant access for the rural parts of the state for marketing and farming activities.

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    He said: “This projects will be broken down based on the roads we are intervening in and we’ve gotten

    “This is aside the N1.4 billion governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has released as counterpart fund to us. The way it works is that the funding has to get approval of the world bank. We write to them stating the roads we are intervening in, the cost, then the world bank will give approval.

    “For every action we take as directorate and agency, we get the approval of Mr Governor first. Then, it comes to us, we finetune, then it goes to the world bank.

    “As counterpart fund, we’ve gotten N1.4 billion and when a state pushes such amount, you could be rest assured of what will come in as world bank intervention.

    According to him, “We are not limited to the €3.5 million and the US$ 500,000, it is a pool. It depends on how we are able to fast-track our construction that will determine the number the amount we will be able to access.

    “We have about 20 states in the project but it has been my prayer that we access more fund than any other state in the country so that we can have more rural roads.”

  • Ogun earmarks N73.5 billion for rural infrastructural devt

    Ogun earmarks N73.5 billion for rural infrastructural devt

    Ogun State government has said 21.3 per cent or N73.5 billion of its N345.42 billion 2018 budget is for rural and infrastructural development/employment generation, and to facilitate new infrastructural projects and fast-track the completion of ongoing ones.

    The Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, disclosed this while presenting the 2018 Appropriation Bill entitled: ‘’Budget of Accelerated Development’’on the floor of the state House of Assembly recently.

    Amosun, who restated his administration’s readiness to construct more urban, semi-urban and rural roads to ensure, listed some would-be beneficiaries of the allocation to include the 26-kilometre Sagamu-Ogijo Road; 28-Km Ikangba-Ilese-Itele Road and 26-km Ilisan-Ago-Iwoye Road.

    Others are the 36-km Abeokuta – Sagamu interchange road; 24-km Atan-Agbara rRoad; 42-km Sango-Ojodu Road; 5.5-km Enugada-Adatan Road; 3.5-km Itoku-Ajitadun-Iberekodo Road and 10-km Adatan-Alabata-Camp Junction.

    Amosun, who was quoted in a statement by the head of media, Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Ayokunle Ewuoso, also noted that 171 rural roads and 25 semi-urban roads have been earmarked for construction while three bridges at Ilaro, Oju Ore in Ota and Lusada Junction, in Ado/Odo Ota Local Government Area, would be constructed.

    “The provision of adequate infrastructure will always be a critical part of this government’s drive for development of its people. As the Gateway state we will use all the resources at our disposal to ensure that our business, people and residents alike enjoy continuous improved mobility in and around our state,’’ he said.

    Amosun assured that government will not relent in its efforts at ensuring the development of the Olokola Deep Sea Port and the Olokola Free Trade Zone, urging well meaning investors to partner government in its bid to developing the state’s free trade zone in Tongeji Island, in Ogun West Senatorial district.

    The governor disclosed that with the commencement of work by the Federal Government on the Lagos -Ibadan rail line, the state is set to benefit as the project would create several stations in the state as well as a rolling stock yard in Kajola in Ifo  Local Government Areas.

    “In addition the Federal Government has located a new dry port in Papalanto, in Ifo local government area, aside from the main station in Abeokuta. This development will enhance our position as the Gateway state as it will enhance the trade opportunities, reduce cost of doing business and make Ogun State even more attractive destination for residents and businesses,” Amosun remarked.

  • Fed, Oyo govts to build 70 rural roads

    The Oyo State government, in collaboration with the Federal Government, will build 70 rural roads across the state.

    The state government said the roads will open up the rural areas and make life more meaningful as well as enhance transportation of farm produce to cities.

    Commissioner for Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development, Prince Oyewole Oyewumi, broke the news at a stakeholders’ meeting on prioritisation of rural roads at Saki, Atiba and Ido local government areas.

    Oyewole, who spoke through the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Victor Atilola, said the roads, with over 700 kilometres, would be built in 28 agrarian local government areas based on priority and recommendation of community leaders under the Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP III).

    The commissioner said the roads would further promote agricultural practices in the identified areas and other parts of the state.

    He urged residents of the beneficiary communities to support the contractor to do a good job.

    The National Project Coordinator of Rural Access and Mobility Project, Ubaldoma Ularamu, said $60 million would be given to Oyo State for its rural roads and river crossing the beneficiary communities.

    He said the government would pay compensation to families or individuals who may suffer damage or loss in the course of building the roads.

    The State Project Coordinator of RAMP III, Dr Yode Ayanlowo said the project was designed to ensure that farmers in rural areas have access to good roads to convey their farm produce to the markets with ease.

  • Build schools for rural dwellers, Joshua urges NGOs

    Build schools for rural dwellers, Joshua urges NGOs

    General Overseer, Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Prophet Temitope Balogun. Joshua, has urged governments and humanitarian bodies all over the world to always focus attention on the plight of people living in remote areas rather than the cities.

    The cleric addressed reporters at the Synagogue premises on Sunday after returning from Ecuador where the Emmanuel TV, of which he is the Executive Producer, inaugurated a basic and secondary school in the country’s Esmmeraldas Province last week.

    He said SCOAN has finalised plans to establish four basic and secondary schools in each continent to consolidate on its humanitarian gesture. However, the schools would be located in the hinterlands, where residents of such places are often abandoned by governments and their wards denied quality and affordable education, the cleric added.

    Going down memory lane, the televangelist recalled that following the earthquake that shook Esmmeraldas Province in Ecuador in April, last year, killing over 500 and leaving many wounded and homeless, he received a vision from God to send relief materials to victims. He added that later God instructed him to commit more lasting legacy for the communities in the Esmmmeraldas Province, noting that it was at that point the idea of a school struck him.

    According to him, his journey from Ecuador capital to Esmmeraldas Province for the inauguration of the project was hectic.

    “It was about a four hours journey from the main town; but more difficult was the terrain. The ground was naturally marshy and it was raining heavily. My aides and I had to mount the back of a pick up van.  At a point, we had to use a raincoat to cover ourselves because of the intensity of the rain. At a pint, the vehicle sank deep into the ground, but eventually, we all made it to our destination by trekking through.”

    Further, he challenged Africa to henceforth stop seeing herself as always begging for alms, particularly from the West, saying this is what has set the continent back for ages.

    “For many years, Africa has enjoyed scholarships, grants and fellowships from the West. But I’m of the belief that we must reverse this trend by giving back to the West.

    “In this part of the world, we have always complained of hunger, poverty and homelessness; but my experience has made me to realise that even developed countries suffer same fate. I have travelled wide and have seen people even in developed societies sleeping under the bridges and begging for food.

    “I have since realised that in line with the words of God, you can only be greater when you learn to give. When we started this ministry, we had nothing; yet whenever I had the opportunity to travel out, I kept on giving, but see where we are now?

    “On our own part, we have chosen to donate even to the West. We have decided to build four primary and secondary schools in each continent but they would be in rural areas where the poor can access quality education.

    “We have also realised that even in developed societies, equal attention is not given to rural dwellers. It’s only schools in the capital that look beautiful, while those in remote communities are abandoned. This is the new task God has given to us and we have also hit the ground running.

    “We are in talks with the government of Ecuador to make the road accessible and motorable for pupils. We will also continue to maintain facilities in the school. In the near future, we are considering offering scholarships to some of the best students in the school to study in some of the best universities in the world.

    He said his greatest joy in Esmmeraldas was seeing smiles on the faces of the innocent children, their teachers and parents all of who now see a renewed hope of education for their wards.

  • Enugu flags off rural projects

    Enugu flags off rural projects

    No fewer than 35 projects have been launched across the 17 local government areas of Enugu State.

    At one of the events at Ndeaboh in Aninri Local Government Area, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s representative, Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure Mazi Patrick Ikpenwa said the projects included roads, boreholes, electricity and school buildings.

    According to him, the bottom-top approach was adopted as the beneficiaries were fully involved in the nomination of the projects as they affected them while due process was followed in choosing contractors to execute them.

    The projects flagged off include:

    • Design and construction of Ihuogiri-Nenwe/Oduma Road (Phase 1) by China Zhonghao Nig. Ltd.
    • Design and construction of Amaegwu Amumkpa-Ogbombara- Etitiama Onuihialla Road (phase1) by Filez.
    • Design and construction of Dam Ukey (phase 1) by Phinotech & Co. Ltd.
    • Design and construction of Amachalla Onovo-Nzerem Road (Phase 1) by Phinotech & Co. Ltd.
    • Construction of five(5) classrooms building at Community Primary School, Amachalla Mpu, Aninri Local Government Area by Gluffy Engineering Construction Ltd.
    • Construction of five (5) classroom building at Community Primary School, Obeagu Oduma, Aninri L.G.A. by Winonez Investment Ltd.
    • Construction of five (5) classroom building at Agboechara High School, Agboechara by Stilt Technies Ltd.
    • Construction of Five (5) classroom building at Community Primary School,        Amaeze Okpanku by Sly-Mich Engineering Constructor Ltd.
    • Construction of Five (5) classroom building at St. Theresa Primary School, Uhueze, Nenwe.

    Ikpenwa explained that the projects regarded as a pilot were all captured in 2016 budget while the next phase would be taken care of in next year’s expenditure estimates.

    The commissioner said that the 8.71km Uhuogiri Road would open up five communities, thereby enhancing economic and social activities in the area. He told the people that it was the first time stakeholders were involved in the process of project selection based on their needs and urged them to own the projects, protect them, and monitor their execution to ensure that the desired goals were met.

    Ikpenwa stated that his Ministry had deployed resident engineers to monitor and supervise the projects in line with global best practices and standard specification in the construction industry.

    He called for maximum cooperation between the contractors, supervisors, members of the communities where the projects were sited and other stakeholders to make the projects a reality.

    The Deputy President of the Senate, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, who witnessed the flag-off expressed joy that the present administration in the State had remembered the people of Aninri Local Government Area who were neglected in the past eight years.

    He stated that this was an indication that Enugu State now had a governor who was committed to working for the people and maintained that as the people continue to feel the impact of the state government.

    The Chief Whip, Enugu State House of Assembly and member representing Aninri State Constituency, Chief Matthias Ekweremadu warned contractors handling the projects to live up to expectation or face the wrath of the people and the government.

    The chairman Aninri Local Government Caretaker Committee, Chief Chidi Ekwe commended Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for all the projects located in the area despite economic recession.

    The Special Adviser to the Governor on Rural Development, Hon. Uche Ogbonna thanked God for the Uhuogiri road which connects Nenwe and Oduma village. He commended Ugwuanyi for thinking about this aspect as it would boost agriculture in Aninri and make life better for them.

    Mr. Tony Ikem Chukwuemeka of Phinotech and Company Limited, a representative of the contractors pledged to execute the project according to specification and called for support and encouragement of the government and the people.

  • BATNF’s interventions boost rural farmers’revenues

    BATNF’s interventions boost rural farmers’revenues

    The British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) has being commended for enhancing farming among smallholders in rural areas.

    BATNF-International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Oke-Ogun Cassava Enterprise Value-chain Development Projects  Field Supervisor, Olatunde Ogunsanya, said the foundation’s interventions have impacted on the lives and businesses of the beneficiaries of the BATNF Cassava Enterprise in Otu Community, in Itesiwaju Local Government Area of Oyo State.

    About 46 smallholder farmers, including women, he said, own large farms, and have access to input, such as improved cassava stems, pesticides and herbicides to preserve their crops.

    “We are proud to say that BATNF’s intervention has positively impacted scores of lives, especially those of women farmers who hitherto operated at subsistence level. Due to support from BATNF, they now work on a large scale, with established market links giving an average women farmer the growth opportunity to net over N500,000 annually,” said Ogunsanya.

    He noted: “The beneficiaries, who now pay labourers to work on their farms, happily share the news of their successes, having triumphed over challenges ranging from limited farmlands, insufficient inputs, lack of resources to expand their farmlands, to encroachment on farmlands, which have drastically reduced.”

    Ogunsanya said BATNF kicked off its three cycle cassava projects in Otu in 2014 with 30 smallholder farmers. About 150 smallholders in Otu, Ogboro Igboho, and Ago-Are communities of Oyo State are benefiting from BATNF’s interventions through the technical partnership with IITA. This collaboration further underpins BATNF’s leading role as a not-for-profit organisation committed to improving the lives and businesses of smallholder farmers in rural communities across Nigeria.

    Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Victoria Ojumola, who started farming about 10 years ago, praised the Foundation for assisting farmers when the community was confronted by various challenges.

    “Before BATNF’s intervention, farming, though lucrative, was not encouraging as most farmers did not have the financial muscle to combat farming challenges. With the coming of the Foundation, farmers were given fully prepared hectares of land, together with sufficient cassava inputs, fertiliser and lots of chemicals to preserve our crops. Most importantly, BATNF supported us by erecting customised signposts to mark boundaries so as to protect our farmlands from further encroachment,’’ Mrs Ojumola said.

    She added: “With the availability of hectares of land, among other support from the Foundation, about 46 of us operate on a large scale in our community. The disposition to farming is fast-changing due to successes we have recorded through the support from BATNF. Some people, who previously abandoned farming due to inherent challenges, have now made a U-turn, indicating interest to embrace their choice vocation. Now I am able to train three of my children at the university level due to the expansion of my farmland.”

  • How rural development can transform economy, by don

    For Nigeria to attain national development, it should prioritise rural development because the rural people are a reservoir of untapped talents, Prof Kolawole Adebayo of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abe-okuta (FUNAAB) has said.

    He spoke at the 52nd Inaugural Lecture of the institution titled: Mercenaries and merchants: The dialectics of rural development in Nigeria, where he was lecturer.

    The professor of Rural Development Communication at the Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, College of Agricultural Management and Rural Development (COLAMRUD), described a mercenary as a soldier, who traverses the earth in search of its treasures and greedily accumulates as much as possible through whatever means.

    He added that in doing so, and if there were any unexpected good, the mercenary usually claims the glory for providing that; but cares less and would do anything to amass wealth.

    Adebayo pointed out that while the mercenaries, who enabled rural development many centuries ago could claim glory for the unintended or accidental results of their efforts, the shape and notion of rural development that followed  was intentional and for selfish motives.

    Defining a merchant as a business person who trades in commodities produced by others to earn a profit, the don said, a ‘merchant’is some one with a profit motive.

    He listed the merchants in this context to include the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD), also known as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), as well as small regional development banks, such as African Development Bank (AfDB), Asia Development Bank (ASDB), European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

    To improve productivity and living standards of the  rural people, Adebayo urged the government  to boost the availability of  credit and banking facilities to enable rural dwellers embark on productive ventures  and  employ more labour. This, he added, would  take a lot of Nigerians out of the strangle-hold of poverty.

    While the economy has witnessed the emergence of rural development merchants in the mode of commercial banks and specialised agricultural banks, Adebayo  also called on  microfinance banks to  take advantage of the enormous market potential.

    Acknowledging the efforts to build the capacities of microfi-nance practitioners undertaken by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), the don, however, implored the institutions  to  extended it  to the Board of Directors of the banks.

  • Osun: New vista for rural development

    Osun: New vista for rural development

    If the concept of Master Plan of Action (MAP) for local government areas in Osun State becomes a reality, it  may be the tonic needed to turn the state around in terms of rural development and  social integration, reports SINA FADARE

    There is no part of the country with all the basic features of a model community. What is referred to as development is a far cry from the much-needed sustainable human development, which, in itself, is the ultimate objective of growth.

    In the past have been paying lip service to this all-important need. None could step up action that will ensure real and sustainable community development.

    Attempts at rural development in the past have been “top-bottom”, with no consideration for the participation of the beneficiaries of such interventions in the development process. The result is the abandonment of such development projects and a colossal waste of public funds.

    A fresh global awareness on the importance of the “bottom-up” approach to development is buttressed by the fact that man, the direct beneficiary of every development intervention, should be recognised as an indispensable agent of sustainable development if efforts injected into the process will not be futile.

    This claim is also supported by the fact that the real wealth of a nation is its people, making it imperative to ensure their participation in the process to give them a sense of ownership, belonging and sustainability.

    At present, Osun State, under the leadership of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has become the leading light in the “bottom-up” approach to development. The governor is indubitably committed to ensuring the development of all communities in the state. He is exemplifying how to turn around communities with active participation of the people towards fast-tracking sustainable development improved standard of living and subsequently halt rural-urban drift.

    Buoyed by his desire to improve the lot of the people and despite the precarious financial situation of the state, the governor has come up with a master plan of action for the development of all communities in the 30 local government areas. He not only committed funds to this exercise, but also directed the Ministry of Water Resources, Rural Development and Community Affairs not to leave out any community in the development gale blowing through the state.

    Consequently, the ministry commenced a workshop on Packaging of Master Plan of Action (MPA) for the 30 local governments and the Area office in December last year. The workshop was aimed at engendering community-driven document that will fast-track holistic development of the state, while the objectives are to improve the understanding of the participants on the concept of Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and Community Plan of Action (CPA) in order to equip participants with the relevant skills to conduct PRA and CPA and to enable them to appreciate the need for the MPA as development strategy for the state.

    At the end of the workshop, not less than 2,288 participants; made up of officials from the line ministries, local governments and OYES Cadets drawn from the three senatorial districts in the state, would have been trained in the conduct of PRA and CPA; the two major processes that will birth the Master Plan of Action for development in the state.

    Participants from Osun East, Osun West and Osun Central Senatorial Districts have been trained and are already in their assigned communities for the conduct of the PRA and CPA. They have been sent out to all communities to interact with the people and find out their challenges and potential.

    The information gathered will form the nucleus of the MPA which will, in turn, make government interventions in such communities easier and better appreciated. With the MPA, any local government chairman who assumes office will have a working document which contains the needs of all communities in his council as agreed by the people of the communities.

    All the council chief needs to do is to pick the felt needs one by one and provide them for the communities as demanded.

    Another beauty of the MPA is that it will form the basis for assessing the performance of the council chairmen during their tenures, while it will also make budget preparation easier for the councils. Apart from these, the document will also provide opportunity for communities to access development partners’ assistance.