Benue Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA), has disbursed the sum of N439.7 million to vulnerable groups and communities in the 23 Local Government Areas of the state.
The agency’s General Manager, Mr. James Aboho stated this at the presentation of impact evaluation report and stakeholders engagement under the CSDP additional financing in Makurdi.
Our correspondent reports that CSDP is funded 90 per cent by the International Development Association (IDA), an arm of the World Bank Group.
Aboho explained that N160.8 million was given to the vulnerable groups while N278.9 million was given to the communities for micro projects.
According to him, the funds were used for micro projects in the health sector, water, transport, education, electricity and social economy in the benefitting communities/groups.
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He said a total of 86 micro projects have been completed in communities while 55 micro projects have been completed for vulnerable groups and a total of 29 micro projects were ongoing since the fund disbursement.
Aboho thanked Governor Samuel Ortom for paying the initial counterpart contribution of N97 million, which qualified Benue for participation in the programme.
The General Manager, who noted that the completed projects have impacted a lot of lives positively, said government will continue to do its part to provide for the needs of the Benue people.
Speaking, the representative of Mbagwa Community in Guma Local Government Area, Mr. Aondowase Apera commended the agency for the projects.
Apera said the school fees waiver project and the electricity project, ongoing in his community have impacted positively on the rural dwellers.
“The electricity project, especially, is one of a kind. Women who were initially pushed in wheel barrows to distant clinics to give birth will no longer have to go far anymore.
“We now have clinics in our community, which has reduced the high mortality rate of children and pregnant women,” Apera said, urging government to keep up the good work.
