The Federal Government of Nigeria has sited at least 60 projects in Edo State under the Economic Sustainability Plan in a bid to open up and integrate rural communities in the state, Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba, said on Tuesday.
Speaking at Uzanu, Etsako East Local Government Area of the state, while commissioning and inspecting some projects in the Edo North Senatorial District, Agba said the projects were in line with President Muhammadu Buhari’s policies geared towards drastically reducing the multi-dimensionally poor Nigerians spanning over 130 million.
Given that farmers in rural areas suffer 60 percent post-harvest losses, he explained that the government was constructing roads in the rural communities under the National Roads Reduction Policy in order to link up rural areas so as to enable them to transport their farm produce to neighbouring communities for economic benefits.
“From the last count including what we have in 2023, I think we have about 60 projects in Edo and I am glad that you have seen some yourself,” Agba said.
He alleged that there were social media write-ups claiming that Buhari has done nothing in Edo, but clarified that, indeed, the President has done well for the state.
“The president has done very well for the state. You saw a bridge today at Uzanu and I also told you that we have a modern bridge we facilitated in the Economic Sustainability Plan. These are two bridges in Edo,” he said.
To those who feared that the ongoing projects may be abandoned, the minister allayed their fears, saying the projects have been captured in the 2023 budget which would be continued by the incoming Bola Tinubu administration under its Renewed Hope Agenda.
Some of the projects completed and inaugurated by the minister included 1.5km Mogbe-Edegbe road, 4.5km Agenebode-Unedeger road, 2.5km Ekiwosor-Ivikhue road, Imukena road, Installation of 500 KVA transformer in Agenebode, open stalls market and solar streetlights.
The minister also inspected some projects, including construction of 31km Uzanu-Ajaokuta Road in Kogi, 21.5 km Uzanu-Okpekpe Road, 6km Ogeneda-Ugochi Road, 10km Egbigere-Ate Road and Somorika Road, among others.
He also commissioned Uzanu Mini Market, Uzanu Divisional Police Station, Uzanu Mini Stadium, Uzanu internal roads and the construction of an 80-bed-seater with two theatres and doctors’ quarters at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital Annex, Uzanu.
Some community leaders commended the Buhari administration and the minister for bringing laudable projects to the senatorial district but appealed, however, for the speedy completion of other projects in the senatorial district.
