The Cross River Government has disbursed N85.4 million to 56 communities under its World Bank assisted programme. The disbursement was undertaken through its Community and Social Development Agency.
Presenting cheques to the various communities at the Transcorp Hotel, Calabar, Governor Liyel Imoke commended them for complementing government’s efforts at transforming rural communities.
Imoke said that governmentinitiated programmes were not meant for urban areas alone since every citizen had equal right and opportunity to government projects.
He expressed satisfaction with the work done by the agency and the way communities designed, utilised and regarded the projects as theirs.
The governor urged them to continue to protect and utilise the projects as government would increase its annual contribution if demands from communities grew.
Imoke said by meeting the conditionality for the execution of project, it meant that they had the passion and commitment.
He advised them to use the funds judiciously and warned them against its mismanagement.
Asuquo Ekpenyong, chairman of the agency, said the agency had proven to be reliable, fast and cheap mechanism to fast track rural development.
Ekpenyong said it had so far approved 192 Community Development Plans comprising 531 multi-sectoral micro projects.
He said the projects had “a cumulative cost of N1.666 billion with the agency’s contribution of N1.499 billion.
