Abia state will be benefitting N1.2 billion in 2012 under the conditional grants scheme of the Millennium Development Goal (MDG).
Senior special Assistant to the president on MDG, Dr.Precious Gbeneol made this public while inaugurating projects executed under 2011 Millennium Development Goals Conditional Grant Scheme in Abia state.
She said that 607 million was spent in Abia in 2011, adding that her office funded 3 local governments –Obingwa, Ohafia and Ikwuano all of which received N200 million each to fund MDG projects.
According to her,the MDG office will be taking 4 additional local governments in Abia in 2012 –Arochukwu, Umunneochi,Ukwa East and Isiala Ngwa south and commended the governor for releasing the counterpart funding for the state promptly.
She further stated that N187million will be disbursed to the state under the conditional cash transfer, disclosing that Abia is among the 24 states to benefit from the sum of N5 billion released by the federal government.
The senior special Assistant thanked the wife of Abia state governor for helping to alleviate poverty among the people, pointing out that the major goal of the MDG is eradicating extreme poverty and hunger among the people.
She urged benefitting communities to protect and use the projects or get blacklisted.
Speaking, Abia governor, Chief TA Orji said the projects were executed to have great impact on the people.
Chief Orji revealed that his administration built and equipped a total of 250 health centres from 2007 till date and built 10 solar powered boreholes.
He maintained that 46 primary health centres were equipped and 17 ambulances purchased in 2011, adding that over 200 communities can boast of using modern facilities in their health centres.
The Abia state chief executive stated that his administration believes in the provision of projects and programmes that impact on the poor segment of society and the underprivileged and thanked the senior special Assistant on MDG for approving 4 new local governments to benefit from the scheme.
He however requested for the inclusion of 4 more local governments from the state to benefit from the scheme.
