160 Communities benefit
160 Communities benefit from Ecological Fund-
SGF
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Gida
Mustapha has reiterated that about one hundred and Sixty
communities (160) throughout the Federation have benefitted from
the Federal Government accrued share of Ecological Fund. He said
that all these communities are very grateful to the Federal
government because in most of these communities, the only Federal
Government presence witnessed is the interventions through the Fund
under the present administration..
Boss Mustapha said this over the weekend while responding to
journalists at the commissioning and handing over ceremony of the
Federal Government’s awarded, executed and completed projects of
Erosion and Road Improvement works at Lugbe and Gully Erosion and
Flood Control Works at Wuye respectively, under Abuja Municipal
Area Council, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
He said that the one percent Ecological and derivation Fund
accrued to the Federal services the National Emergency Management
Agency (NEMA), Great Green Wall (GGW), Ecological Fund Office (EFO)
and other agency at the directive of Mr. President. According to
him, EFO which is under the Office of the Secretary to the
Government of the Federation intervenes in virtually all the
thirty-six states of the Federation including FCT. He promised that
with the commissioning of completed projects, Nigerians would be
seeing the interventions of the Federal Government through the
Ecological Fund Office.
Boss Mustapha who represented Mr. President, President Muhammadu
Buhari, at the commissioning and hand-over ceremonies at Lugbe and
Wuye reiterated the present administration’s promise that no part
of the country would be neglected under this administration owing
to its geographical location or political considerations.
He said that the Federal Government’s execution of projects
across the country also demonstrates the sincerity of purpose of
the present administration towards entrenching justice, equity and
fair play to all and sundry.
Maintaining that with the completion of these projects, the
living standard of Lugbe and the environs would be enhanced as well
as that of Wuye school community. According to him, the
intervention of the Federal Government has helped in reducing the
dangers associated with erosion and persistent flooding that the
communities have experienced.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, (EFO),
Dr. Habiba Lawal while acknowledging the contractor, consultant and
the EFO staff for their efforts in ensuring timely completion of
the project, reiterated that the handover was meant to enable the
host communities take over and exercise ownership over the project,
to ensure its maintenance and sustainability. She urged the host
community not to allow the resources the Federal Government
committed to the projects to waste.
Responding to the projects, the Executive Chairman, Abuja
Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Abdullahi Adamu Candido
appreciated the efforts of the Federal Government on the projects.
He appreciated Mr President, the Secretary to the Government of the
Federation, Ecological Fund Office and the contractor for seeing to
the award and completion of the projects at AMAC. He said that
construction of the Lugbe road would enhance the commercial
activities in the area especially as the Council was relocating a
market around the area. He promised to personally go on a
sensitization tour round the project sites to educate the
communities on what they need know and do in order to keep and
protect the projects in their respective localities within
AMAC.
Similarly, the representative of Lugbe community, Barr. Salihu
Momoh on behalf of the community expressed his joy on the
completion of the project. According to him, the community has
struggled for the past ten years to get the attention of government
on the road to no avail. He praised the leadership of President
Muhammadu Buhari and the Secretary to the government of the
Federation for the attending to the yearnings of local
communities.
As every voice could not be heard at the ceremony, many youths
were seen with their placards hailing the leadership of Mr
President, SGF and AMAC. As ‘Oliver Twist’ they requested for more
of the roads within Lugbe to be constructed.
At the Federal Government boys’ Secondary School, Wuye where the
other completed project was commissioned, the school authorities
were grateful to the Federal government for the quick intervention
in rescuing the school’s permanent site from dangerous gully
erosion threat.
The event witnessed a huge turnout of AMAC staff, EFO Directors
and Management, OSGF Directors and the Gentlemen of the press
Iheoma-Hart Queenet (Mrs.)
Snr. Information Officer
For: DD (Press)