The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, has urged the World Bank President, Mr Ajay Banga, to suspend issuing loans to Nigeria’s 36 states over allegations of mismanaging public funds, including loans obtained from the institution.
It also urged the World Bank to probe the spending of over $8.5 billion in loans and other facilities by the 36 state governors in Nigeria.
SERAP, in a statement by its Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said: “The World Bank and its partners cannot continue to give loans and other funding to these states where there are credible allegations of mismanagement or diversion of public funds.
“We are concerned that there is a significant risk of mismanagement or diversion of funds linked to the Bank’s investments in many of the country’s 36 states. It is neither appropriate nor responsible lending to give loans to these states only for the loans to be misspent.”
The letter, read in part: “The World Bank’s lending and support for these states may create the impression of complicity in the allegations of mismanagement or diversion of public funds by the states which may include loans from the Bank and its partners, and federal allocations.
“We would consider the option of pursuing legal action should the World Bank fail or fail to implement the recommendations contained in this letter, and we may join the country’s 36 states in any such suit.
“According to Nigeria’s Debt Management Office, the total public debt portfolio for the country’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory is N9.17 trillion. The Federal Government’s public debt portfolio is N78.2 trillion.
“We also urge you to demand expressed commitment from Nigeria’s 36 governors to address credible allegations of mismanagement or diversion of public funds in their states and provide guarantees that loans and funding from the Bank and its partners would not be used to fund the luxurious lifestyles of politicians.
“We urge the Bank to send independent monitors to the 36 states to monitor the spending of the loans and other funding obtained from the Bank and its partners to remove the risks of mismanagement or diversion of public funds by these states.
“The World Bank currently has a portfolio of about $8.5 billion spread across the country. The bank has also approved several loans and other funding facilities to the country’s 36 states, including the recent $750 million credit line meant for the states to carry out reforms to attract investment and create jobs.
“The accounts of Nigeria’s 36 states are generally not open to public scrutiny as many of them continue to refuse freedom of information requests seeking transparency and accountability in the spending of public funds.
“The World Bank and its partners need to make clear to Nigeria’s state governors that it would not tolerate any mismanagement or diversion of public funds by immediately suspending any pending loans and other funding to them until the allegations of mismanagement or diversion of public funds are investigated.”
The World Bank has advised the federal government on the need to ensure accountability in the disbursement of proceeds from the fuel subsidy removal.
Country Director, World Bank, Nigeria Office, Professor Shubham Chaudhuri, said this in Ibadan at a Symposium on “Economic Opportunity Pathways to Navigating Post-reform Challenges in Nigeria”.
He stated that Nigerians must benefit from the proceeds through various poverty alleviation programmes such as cash transfer scheme, provision of Mass transit buses, assistance to farmers and free education, while the federal government should sustain the removal of the fuel subsidy and also curb commercial malpractices.
Professor Chaudhuri enjoined state governments that have benefitted from the World Bank projects like NG-CARES programme, to complement the federal government in the post subsidy removal regime.
On the issue of rising inflation in the country, Professor Chaudhuri advised the President Bola Tinubu led administration to end borrowing from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN and create more friendly environment for private investments to thrive.
Also speaking, Director General, Nigeria Institute of Social and Economic Research, NISER, Professor Anthonia Simbine, reiterated the need for the nation’s economy to be diversified in a genuine and value adding ways.
In a message to the programme, Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Professor Kayode Adebowale, who spoke through the Dean, Faculty of Economics and Management Sciences, Professor Olanrewaju Olaniyan, pointed out that the University would continue to embark on researches on ways to navigate Post reforms era in Nigeria.
Other speakers at the Symposium while appealing to Nigerians to exercise more patient as a result of the effects of the fuel subsidy removal, equally called on governments to ensure upward review of workers salaries and also improve the security situation of the country.
President Bola Tinubu says a comprehensive forensic audit of the Central Bank is underway, while a thorough overhaul of the Civil Service payroll is imminent.
The President stated this during an audience with the President of the World Bank, Mr. Ajay Banga, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
”The reforms are in tandem with Nigeria’s Ease of Doing Business programme. We’ll block all financial loopholes. The reforms will be targeted at the way we work, change of attitude and equally on educating our people. It’s costly but we will do it,” he said.
Highlighting Nigeria’s resilience and intellectual prowess, the President implored the Bretton Woods institution to view the country as a significant player within the global community, not solely as a struggling economy.
‘‘We stand as a vibrant and educated society, seeking to avert chaos through strategic interventions. Your proactive engagement aligns with our quest for partnership, and together, we shall pursue mutual benefits that enrich us all,’’
On poverty alleviation, the President called for more increased support from the World Bank, expressing optimism for a productive collaboration between Nigeria and the World Bank that will lead to mutual benefits and sustainable progress.
Third left, the World Bank President, Mr. Ajay Banga, president Bola and the delegation from the world Bank at the presidential Villa Abuja. Photo: Twitter/@officialAbat
He also discussed the ongoing efforts to address issues around fuel subsidy removal, foreign exchange mismanagement, exchange rates, inflation, liquidity, and debt management.
The President pointed out the importance of electricity generation for economic development, highlighting the turning of sod earlier today on the first phase (350MW) of the 1,350MW power generation project in Gwagwalada, Abuja.
The President explained that the project signified the administration’s commitment to a comprehensive approach, which encompasses power generation, distribution, energy transition, and tariff adjustments.
While calling for a positive partnership with the World Bank, President Tinubu emphasised key areas of focus, including job creation, digitisation, and National Identity Management.
He also requested the World Bank’s support in addressing the challenges posed by the removal of cross-sectoral subsidies, particularly in lessening the impact on less privileged Nigerians.
The President of the World Bank, Mr. Ajay Banga had commended President Tinubu for his efforts in addressing the economic challenges of the country.
The Ogun State Government has qualified for the second phase of Nigeria for Women Project, NFWP, for demonstrating its commitment as a proactive partner in terms of women empowerment and poverty alleviation.
Task Team Leader of NFWP, a World Bank-sponsored initiative, Mr. Michael Ilesanmi made this known during a meeting with the Adviser to the Governor of Ogun State on Economic Matters, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo, in Abeokuta.
Mr. Ilesanmi, said the state government’s dedication to addressing challenges proactively had gained recognition on both national and international levels.
He explained that the World Bank recently approved a scale-up of 500 million dollars for the Federal Government program, adding that the state had already met all the required criteria, enabling a swift start for implementation.
Mr. Dapo Okubadejo, while welcoming the team, applauded the World Bank for being a great partner in the program.
He noted that the proactiveness of the government in promoting social welfare programmes for the financial inclusion of women had positioned the state as the leader in the NFWP.
He added that the state government deliberately promotes collective women’s groups in agriculture by bringing women together to address issues of value chain development.
Ekiti State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Wale Fapohunda, SAN, has called for a safe space for women in public service experiencing sexual and gender-based violence in their homes.
Mr Fapohunda stated this while delivering a lecture titled ‘Tackling the Menace of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Public Service (SGBV): Role of Women in Management.
The Attorney General stated that women in management should involve the services of retired senior citizens, who can mentor and sensitize female public servants battling gender-based violence either in the workplace or home front.
He highlighted some of the interventions put in place by the government to include enforcement of the criminal justice system to punish perpetrators of SGBV, safe shelter for victims, and sexual referral centres among others
Mr Fapohunda implored the various ministries to come up with their own GBV policies to checkmate Sexual harassment in the workplace.
In her contribution, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Folake Olomojobi mentioned that women in management should key into the intervention by the World Bank to support Ekiti State with safe shelter for SGBV victims across the sixteen local government areas of the state.
She noted that when women are economically empowered they will be less vulnerable to domestic violence.
Earlier in her welcome address the coordinator, women in management Ekiti State Mrs Oyeyemi Kayode-Ojo, said women in management would continue to assist in preparing female officers in the public service for leadership roles, encourage healthy habits and lifting other women as well as sensitizing them against SGBV.
In January 2019, Osun State Government received a $20 million grant from Federal Government-World Bank “Programme for Result” “PforR”, a health intervention programme following the state’s success in the previous intervention project.
The programme supports the government’s existing “Save One Million Lives” (SOML) initiative by providing incentives based on the achievement of health outcomes and helping to drive the institutional process needed to achieve them.
In March 2019, during the launch of the programme, the state governor, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, said the money would be used to rehabilitate six Secondary Health facilities and 332 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) noting that these are spread across the state’s 30 local government areas (LGAs), with one per ward.
The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Rafiu Isamotu, noted that drugs worth over 200 million naira would be provided for the PHCs as well as motorised boreholes.
However, over two years after receiving the funds, rehabilitation of 17 of the PHCs are yet to be completed, while most of those completed are already calling for attention due to poor, incomplete and shoddy work.
In addition, according to World Bank report number RES45418, the project with Nigeria ended in January 2021.
Radio Nigeria Correspondent, Adenitan Akinola, presents the situation in this report of an investigation supported by John D and Catherine T McArthur Foundation and the International Center for Investigative Reporting.
Mr Kazeem Abolade is a commercial motorcyclist operating at Ako Park in Ikire.
He took Radio Nigeria correspondent to Odeyinka Primary Health Center, In Odeyinka Community of Irewole Local Government.
In the course of the 21 kilometres ride on his motorcycle to Odeyinka, he narrated how he almost lost his wife sometime in April during childbirth due to the absence of electricity in Odeyinka PHC.
Figure 1Images 1, 2 and 3 of PHC in Ido Osun in Egbedore LG. Poorly done toilets, floors, borehole not functioning. The borehole extension for community use was also not done by the contractor Rigomich Integrated Company Ltd.
Mr Abolade explained that, while one of the health workers managed to use the light of their mobile phone to illuminate the delivery ward, the other was devising means to contain the water from the leaking roof in the wake of the torrential downpour.
On getting to the health centre, one of the female health workers, who spoke under the condition of anonymity confirmed Abolade’s story as she took our reporter round the facility complaining about the shoddy execution by the contractor.
Figure 2 Images 1-4 : PHC Odeyinka, Ayedaade LG awarded to Abisco Global Concept. The installed borehole not functioning, roofs leaking, toilet soakaway is crashing, and only 4 beds are functional.
During the inspection of the facility awarded to Abisco Global Concept, it was observed that four locations were leaking from the roof. Furthermore, the newly sunk borehole was not functioning, the mosquito net was not properly fixed, no new ceiling fans, the two beds in the hospital had been acquired a year earlier under another programme, no utility room for staff on night duty, the toilet soak away is already broken in two.
This situation was not different at some of the completed PHCs visited, including Ago Owu, PHC Oke Elu, Wakajaye, Gbongan in Ayedaade Local Government awarded to Tera Peco Ventures, Moore PHC in Ife East, awarded to Teejay Genuine services, PHC Ibokun awarded to Dotfam Multi venture, PHC Ilase executed by Olas Salson Investment Ltd in Obokun Local Government and PHC Okinni, Ido Osun in Egbedore Local awarded to Rigomich Integrated com Ltd.
The renovation was done in Moore PHC in Ife East by Teejay Genuine services; however, no borehole was not installed.
At the Ido Osun PHC, a male health worker who took our reporter around the facility said they often drew the attention of the contractor to the shoddy job during the rehabilitation, leading to disagreement between them, until the contractor accused them of not wanting him to make a profit.
Moore PHC in Ife East by renovated by Teejay Genuine services; however borehole was not installed.
The toilet at Ido Osun PHC had collapsed, the flooring, doors and windows were poorly fixed with substandard materials; even though the borehole had been installed, it is not working.
The staff stressed that they personally contributed money to purchase cement to fix the floor and some windows.
Some residents of the communities hosting the health centres told our correspondent that the renovation and reconstruction of the facility was a significant relief for them considering the number of years they had been abandoned.
However, they expressed concerns that some aspects of the newly repaired health centres were already falling apart.
At the Ido Osun PHC in Egbedore Local Government, a pregnant woman, who gave her name as Bashirat, complained of the damaged toilet available for patients visiting the place.
For a nursing mother at the Odeyinka Health Centre, Mrs Foluke Bolade, her worry was the leaking roof which she said had become a nightmare for patients whenever it rained.
Similarly, 17 of the PHCs listed in the government revitalisation project have not been touched as of the time of this investigation.
Some of those visited out of the 17 included Erin oke PHC in Oriade Local Government, Okesa PHC, Egbedi PHC in Ilesa West LG, Ifon in Ifon/Orolu PHC, Iwo PHC in Iwo LG and Ikire PHC in Irewole LG.
Notwithstanding their dilapidated state, the health centres are still operated by officials who told Radio Nigeria they were managing to provide services from what is available.
One of the residents of Erin oke in Oriade Local Government, Mr John Akogun, urged the government to expedite action on the rehabilitation as residents, particularly children and pregnant women, suffered more because the health centre is the only public medical facility in the community.
In an interview, the Coordinator of a Civil Society Organisation in Osun State, Virtues Unlimited, Restorative Justice, VURJ, Mr Wole Oladapo, alleged that the government only awarded the contracts on the basis of patronage, knowing full well that the jobs would not be thoroughly executed.
Mr Oladapo said from the private assessment the CSO carried on some of the projects, it was clear that the execution fell below expectations and what was required to make the health centres functional, durable and meet the needs of the people.
In September, our reporter met with the Osun State Commissioner for Works and Transportation, Engineer Remi Omowaye, who said letters of contract award for the remaining 17 health centres had been issued to the contractors who should move to the sites any moment.
Engr Remi Omowaye, Commissioner for Works and Transport, Osun State.
Engineer Omowaye explained that the delay was deliberate as the government was taking its time to ensure that a thorough job was done and assured that the job would be completed between two to three months.
On whether the government was aware that many of those completed were poorly done, the commissioner said there were two committees set up to monitor the project, adding that the jobs are observed for six months after completion before retention were paid.
The Commissioner for Health, Doctor Rafiu Isamotu, said the project was carried in line with the terms of the SOML grant.
Similarly, the General Manager of the State Public Procurement Agency, Mr Adegboyega Bello, told Radio Nigeria that projects contract for the revitalisation of the primary health centres were awarded to small and medium scale contractors and were thoroughly supervised.
Mr Adegboyega Bello, General Manager, Osun State Public Procurement Agency.
He said part of the measures adopted to ensure good jobs were executed included payment of the contractors in three tranches and retention of 5% of the total sum until six months after the jobs were certified okay.
If the claim of the General Manager of Osun Public Procurement Agency on the quality of Jobs done is anything to go by, the question then is why have some of the hospital facilities gone bad in less than one year after rehabilitation?
Though available documents obtained from government offices in the course of the investigation only revealed the names of the contracting companies and projects assigned to them, their addresses and cost of the projects were not given, neither were they indicated on the signposts the contractors erected at sites of the projects.
The Ido-Osun PHC in Egbedore Local Government was rehabilitated by the Rigomich Integrated company. Google map gave the address as located on Aminu Kano Crescent in Wuse II, Abuja. When an email was sent to its Director, Mr Irigo Michael Eniola at [email protected], he declined to comment on the state of the shoddy work but directed the reporter to the consultant.
An online database of companies registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission shows that Rigomich Integrated Company Ltd, the contractor that handled the Ido Osun PHC rehabilitation company which was established in 2007 currently has an unknown status while its activities are unspecified as against the provision of the Company and Allied Matters Act, 2020.
The directors of the company who are of the same family have their names as Irigo Michael Eniola, Irigo Oluwatoyin and Tolulope Irigo as the Secretary, with its office at Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja.
When an email was sent to its leading Director, Mr Irigo Michael Eniola at [email protected], he declined to comment on the state of the shoddy job but asked this reporter to meet with the consultant.
Similarly, Abisco Global concept that got the Odeyinka PHC, registered in 2011 as a private Unlimited company, has its office at number 49, Alegongo Complex, off Adebayo Alao Akala Road, Ibadan, Oyo State, but its status on through the online database of companies registered CAC reads unknown, while its activity is unspecified; no phone number or email address can be found on the dashboard.
The names of its Directors are given as Oyegbade Akintunde and Oyegbade Adebisi.
Also is Dotfam Multiventures Ltd, to which rehabilitation of Ibokun PHC in Obokun Local Government was awarded; according to the information on the dashboard, the company has three Directors who share a similar surname with the Osun State APC chairman, Prince Gboyega Famodun.
The Directors, Adedotun Babajide Famodun, David Adekunle Famodun, Adedapo Adewale Famodun also has two of them as Directors of Dekfam Ltd, a company (registered in 2011) linked to the family of the Party Chairman and got a share of the moribund fire stations contracts hurriedly awarded at the twilight of the administration of Minister of Interior, Mr Rauf Aregbesola when he was governor of Osun State between 2010 and 2018.
Dotfam, though registered in June year 2018 as a Private Limited Company, PLC, with activities in construction, its status is presently unknown, while its address at No 4B, Road 2 Street, Okinini town is difficult to locate as Okinni is in Egbedore Local government, not Osogbo as indicated.
A message of inquiry sent by this reporter to the email of the company was not replied to.
For Teejay Genuine Services that did the rehabilitation of Moore PHC in Ife East Local government, it was registered in 2006 with address at No 4, Social Brothers Building, Ilero Central Market, Ilero Oyo state, but its status and activity on its dashboard read unknown and unspecified.
It has Yusuf Tajudeen Bukola, Yusuf Luqman Adedayo, Yusuf Suliat Opeyemi and Yusuf Rukayat Omolola as directors, while its phone number and email address are unknown.
The Ilase PHC in Obokun Local Government was awarded to Olas Salson Investment Ltd.
The company which was registered in 2006 as a Public Unlimited Company has no specific activity and its current status is unknown.
It has no contact email or telephone number while its address is given as number 1, Sule Salami Street, Osogbo is difficult to trace.
A search through the online data gives its directors names as Sule Salami, Olalere Dayo Salami and Muritala Adebayo.
Wakajaye PHC in Gbongan, Ayedaade Local Government was awarded to Tera Peco Ventures, but the name on the dashboard reads Tera & Pico Ventures, located at No 56/58 Laito Street, Oke Iye area, Iwo, Osun State.
The company established in 2009 has no status and activities unknown, while the names of its directors could not be ascertained through the online search.
All the companies investigated in this report have unknown status on the online database of companies registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission, CAC.
Most of them have no contact address or means of reaching them while others refused to respond to messages sent to their e-mail addresses.
Osun is one of the top-performing states in the SOML project; however, the people want the government to take a second look at the rehabilitation of some of the Primary Health Centers, PHCs and recall contractors handling some of the projects if the state must get sustainable value for the 20 million dollars grant.
The Delta State Government has committed the sum of six hundred million naira in counterpart funds to attract the same amount from the World Bank and United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, SDG.
Delta State Commissioner for Information Mr. Charlse Aniagwu, stated this at the Government House, Asaba, at the end of the State Executive Council meeting.
Mr. Aniagwu noted that the total of one point two billion naira would enable the state to implement key SDG programmes in the health and education sectors, including peace and security initiatives and gender equality.
The Commissioner for Information also mentioned the endorsement of over four hundred and fifty million naira promised to the state’s representatives at the Edo 2020 National Sports Festival, with the aim to maintain its dominance in the sports sector.
He mentioned that the State Exco also approved a new policy for the siting of gas plants and petroleum stations in the state.
Ekiti State Government has spent ten billion nairas to ensure potable water supply across the towns and villages in the state.
Out of the figure, the Ekiti government contributed one billion naira counterpart funds, while the World Bank donated fifty million dollars.
While analyzing the Project, Governor Kayode Fayemi said that over two hundred and fifty kilometers of water distribution pipeline extension constructed to ensure free flow of potable water in Olorunda, Ikigbisin, Olorunsogo, Surulere, Housing Estate, Okeila, Adebayo, and other streets of Ado Ekiti, while two thousand reservoirs also constructed to boost the availability of water in the state capital.
He said that government would soon address factors responsible for the inability of free flow of water in some parts of the state, saying that the extension of the pipe-born water had been completed in Oke-imesi, Ikogosi, Erio, Aramoko, and Erijiyan Ekiti.
Governor Fayemi appreciated the World Bank for the support to build Ekiti and make life meaningful to the people.
The Ekiti State Governor challenged the Management and staff of Water Cooperation to work hard and justify the huge investment in the water sector by ensuring constant potable water supply in the state in order to meet the yearnings of the people and achieve a society free of water born diseases in Ekiti.
While inaugurating the Water Cooperation Headquarters in Ado Ekiti, the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki said that Ekiti is a lucky state to have the level of human resources and hardworking Governor Fayemi which were conspicuously lacking in many big states in Nigeria.
Governor Obaseki noted that the core values of Governor Fayemi’s leadership are shown in the level of his achievements in areas of healthcare delivery, infrastructure, and empowerment.
He explained that Ekiti State had the highest number of vaccinated people against COVID-19 in Nigeria, while the health sector was well organized to meet the yearnings of the people.
Earlier, the State Commissioner for Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Mr. Bamidele Faparusi who assured that no worker would lose his or her job due to the reform in the water sector, maintained that staff of the water Cooperation had been trained on the best ways to ensure potable water supply.
Me Faparusi said three major dams which include Ero, Egbe, and Ureje dam had been rehabilitated to ensure frequent water supply in line with the global policy to access clean water.
While calling on the Communities where water facilities were installed, Mr. Faparusi called on the people to partner government in protecting them in the interest sustain growth and meaningful development in Ekiti.
The challenges of building and conducive environment for workers in Ekiti State Water Cooperation has now been addressed as the state government inaugurated the Water House, put in place necessary facilities for the use and smooth operation in the system.
In upholding his pledge to continue to serve the interests of the people of Oyo State, Governor ‘Seyi Makinde has expressed his avowed commitment to the timely completion of the World Bank-backed Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project (IUFMP).
The governor has also appealed to the World Bank not to withdraw its conditional no objection for the Second Pool of Long Term Investments (PLTI2) BERs, and make available funding for the contracts.
The contract was reportedly cancelled over the failure of the state government to conclude the contract award of the successful bidders for the four lots (3A,3B,4A & 4B) under the bank’s international Competitive Bidding Process.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicates that the state also rejected insinuations that the World Bank had withdrawn its commitment to IUFMP due to display of undue interests by the governor.
The commitment of the governor and Oyo State Government “is coming at a time when World Bank, in its correspondence of July 30, 2021, to Governor Makinde, pointed out administrative issues and strengthening of the safeguard team.”
“The Bank, nonetheless, expressed a recognition of Governor Makinde’s unwavering support to the important project.”
The World Bank said it recognised “…Your Excellency’s unwavering support to this important project for the safety and well-being of Ibadan’s citizens.”
The statement noted that while a correspondence from the World Bank, signed by Mr. Shubham Chaudhuri, Country Director, Nigeria, Western and Central Africa Region, had conveyed the determination of the status of its support for the project, the said decision was not as a result of undue interference by Governor Makinde.
“The government of Oyo State remained committed to its letter of undertaking submitted to the Bank in May 2021,” the statement said.
The statement continued: “Already, Governor Makinde’s appeal has been forwarded to the World Bank with six strategic and critical progress milestones comprising Activities, Proactive Steps and Status.”
The statement further quoted the governor as drawing the attention of the World Bank to the “proactive steps already taken and the commitment of the Project (IUFMP) in the last two months,” while the governor also outlined areas of alignment with the observations made by the financial institution.
Indeed, the statement noted that of strategic importance is Governor Makinde’s revalidation of an earlier written undertaking that “the state will continue to fund and complete works post-June 2022 project completion date, should project works at all Lots extend beyond the end date”.
The statement further read: “Contrary to insinuations in some partisan quarters about interests and lack of continuity, only last week, IUFMP awarded dredging of forty-five (45) streams within and around Ibadan metropolis, as part of its palliative measures”.
“The dredging exercise is ongoing, helping to provide instant relief to residents of flood-prone areas where structural interventions are yet to take place”.
“Work on the long-term investments is on-going on the channels of Agodi, Kudeti, Ogbere, Orogun, etc. as earlier launched, barring the occasional drawbacks by the inclement weather”.
“Nowhere in the letter from the World Bank were issues of personal interest or insistence on some contractors mentioned”.
Forty thousand farmers are expected to benefit from the World Bank assisted programme through agricultural intervention programmes of Ogun State Economic Transformation Project, OGSTEP.
The Ogun State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Adeola Odedina announced this during a familiarization and validation exercise to some places in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of the state.
Dr. Adesina explained that the OGSTEP intervention programme included provision of farm infrastructure, such as road network, water and electricity supply that would link farmers to industrial process in order to create jobs.
While distributing two kilograms bags of maize seeds, cassava stems, cocoa and cashew seedlings to the farmers, the agriculture Commissioner expressed delight at the communities’ readiness for the programme.
Also, the Acting Programme Manager, OGSTEP, Dr. Oluseyi Olugbire explained that the programme was meant to enhance ease of doing business which would attract investors, strengthen the agricultural value-chains, rural infrastructure, private sector participation and technical assistance towards increased productivity.
Speaking on behalf of farmers in the community, the Olori-Oko of Sode Village, Chief Adesegun Shorinmade expressed joy at the intervention and thanked the government for the gesture.
The Federal Government has faulted claims by a World Bank report which indicated that 78% of power consumers in Nigeria get less than 12 hours of daily electricity supply.
A Special Adviser to the President on Infrastructure, Mr. Ahmad Rufai Zakari, said in statement in Abuja that it was unclear what empirical evidence the World Bank used to arrive at the figures, insisting that power distribution was steadily improving.
“The Power Sector Recovery Programme Opinion Research Fact Sheet released by the World Bank, said it is inaccurate to make a blanket statement that 78% of Nigerians have less than 12 hours daily access.”
He argued that evidence from the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC showed that only 55% of citizens connected to the grid are in tariff bands D and E which are less than 12 hours supply.
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has inaugurated a steering committee for COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programme for Result (CARES) to provide necessary intervention and support for the people in the state.
The CARES initiative is a World Bank programme across the 36 states of the federation including the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
The 9- man steering committee to be headed by the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Akinola Ojo was inaugurated at the Executive Chambers of the Governor’s Office, Ibadan,
Speaking at the event, Governor Seyi Makinde said the focus of the World Bank assisted project was basically to mitigate the damages caused by the Covid-19 pandemic with the aim of caring for the poor and vulnerable, guarantee food security and support MSMEs.
While reeling out several interventions of his administration to cushion the effect of Covid-19 and sharing of palliatives, the governor noted that the CARES programme was not for mere money sharing but to ensure measurable results was achieved.
Earlier, the chairman of the steering committee and Commissioner for Finance, Mr Akinola Ojo explained that the World Bank facilitated programme Nigeria CARES (NCARES) had earmarked 750 million dollars for a two-year financial support to states.
Mr Ojo pledged that Oyo State would access maximum grant from the programme in line with the current administration’s vision of moving the people from poverty to prosperity.
Also the state coordinator of the programme, Mr Kikelomo Adegoke assured that the state on its part would ensure a thorough implementation of the programme in accordance with its mandate.
Another round of training for some selected officials and enumerators on community based registration of poor, vulnerable households in Oyo State has been concluded in Oyo town.
The leader of the field exercise, Mrs. Laide Lasisi, who is also the Coordinator, Oyo State Operation Coordinating Unit, SOCU said the aim of the World Bank Assisted Project, among others was to generate a single register of the poorest of the poor in the selected communities.
In order to compile an accurate and acceptable register therefore, Mrs. Lasisi explained the need for the community based targeting trainees to acquire practical experience on what poverty means in different communities.
Mrs. Lasisi maintained that having earlier done a poverty map of each state by the world bank ahead of the training exercise, and considering the prevalence of poverty in the communities visited, a successful outcome was inevitable.
The Computer Based Test step down trainees visited three communities in ilora where they gained vital knowledge on what residents perceived as poverty.
Some women, including Mrs. Funke Oladoja, Dunmade Omotayo and Elizabeth Salako described poverty as a terrible state of hunger and hopelessness.
However, to an elderly man, Pa Oluwole Thomas who lives in one of the erosion-ravaged communities, poverty could also mean consistent loss of livelihood through the activities of cattle rearers.
Members of the communities visited called on government to ensure that the exercise did not end up as mere registration.
Responding, Coordinator, State Operation Coordinating Unit, SOCU, Mrs. Laide Lasisi said data generated from the exercise would be forwarded to Abuja for further analysis. the trainees had earlier been exposed to topics such as concepts of poverty and vulnerability, community-based targeting principles and practice among other topics.
The beneficiaries of European Union and the World Bank assisted State Expenditure and Employment for Results Project SEEFOR in Delta State say, the interventionist programs has led to a boost in admission in schools and other developmental initiatives in the area.
They made this known during a media tour of community based projects embarked upon by SEEFOR in collaboration with various community unions across Delta Central Senatorial district of the state.
Osun State Government has been advised to use part of the 20million dollar health grant by the World Bank to procure testing kits and establish more testing centres to contain community transmission of Covid-19 in the state.
A member representing Osun East in the Senate, Senator Francis Fadahunsi gave the advice in an exclusive interview Radio Nigeria Gold FM.
Banki agbaye ti buwolu owoya oni millionu eedegberin o le ni aadota, 750 million dollars ti egbe to wa fun idagbasoke lagbaye fun agbedide eka ina oba nile Naijiria.
Ninu atejade ti banki naa fi sita nilu Abuja, o ni igbese naa ni won gbe lati lee ri pe eka ina oba tubo fese rinle ki won si lee ko akoyawo.
Atejade naa salaye wipe ida metadinlaadota awon omo ile yi ni won ni anfani si ina oba nigbati awon ti won nni nkoju idakuruku ina oba.
O fikun wipe, sisatunse si eka ina oba ni paapajulo fun awon eka to npese nkan nile yi se pataki lati muki oro aje tubo gbooro sii leyin ajakale arun Covid-19.
Children around the world are routinely engaged in paid and unpaid forms of work that may be harmful to them.
However, child labour is when children under the legal age of adulthood work or are involved in hazardous activities that may compromise their physical, mental, social or educational development.
According to World Bank records, Africa ranks highest among regions in the percentage of children involved in child labour.
Child labour is not about children performing small tasks around the house, but the exploitation of the most vulnerable, disadvantaged and marginalized children in society.
According to the recent estimates of the International Labour Organization, ILO, there are approximately seventy-two million child labourers between the ages of five to seventeen in Africa.
Children are withdrawn from school and put to work in order to fight the economic downturn.
Also revealed from past research studies conducted in Nigeria is the fact that, whenever most families have some shocks female children are used in replacement of their mother’s work in domestic duties instead of going to school.
Large proportion of female Nigerian children are used as domestic servants by trafficking them into some neighbouring countries, some hawk for their parents or their masters without directly been paid.
Parents who have the financial ability to forgo the income from their children in most parts of Nigeria still do not choose to send those children to school.
The Covid-19 health pandemic and the resulting economic and labour market shocks are having a huge impact on people’s lives and livelihoods.
Unfortunately, children are often the first to suffer with the crisis pushing millions of vulnerable children into child labour.
Government should therefore intensify their efforts at educating parents on the need for a small family size.
This year, the World Day against Child Labour will be conducted as a virtual campaign and is being organized jointly with the global march against child labour and the international partnership for cooperation on child labour in agriculture.
As Covid-19 pandemic ravages the world, parents and guardians should protect their children and wards from labour and keep them at home.
Children should be properly engaged during this pandemic to protect them from contracting the dreaded disease.
Parents should be discouraged from giving their children for exchange or as servants in times of difficulty.
This the government can do by giving parents that wish to send their children to school but without the mean access to credit facilities to help them cater for their family.
Oyo State Government has disbursed
a sum of about Seventy-Six Million naira to eighteen communities and
two vulnerable groups under its World Bank-Assisted programme.
The money disbursed through the Oyo
State Community and Social Development Agency, OYCSDA, would be spent on
education, water, transportation, socio-economic, environment and health
sectors in each community.
The Chairman, Oyo State Community and Social Development Agency, OYCSDA, Dr Idowu Oyeleke said this during a day training for Community Project Management Committee, CPMC, and presentation of cheques to various communities in Ibadan.
Presenting cheques to the beneficiaries, Dr Oyeleke pointed out that the community and Social Development Project was one of the areas of collaboration between the state government and World Bank to reduce poverty through community participation in service delivery.
He also pledged the commitment of Engineer Seyi Makinde’s administration towards the implementation of life-impacting programmes in line with the cardinal objectives of good governance.
Dr Oyeleke said that all the micro-projects were expected to be completed within two months, amidst adequate monitoring and maintenance by the stakeholders.
In their responses, the benefiting communities were full of appreciation to the present administration in the state for bringing development to their doorsteps through the agency.
The World Bank has committed
$12bn (£9.4bn) in aid for developing countries grappling with the spread of the
coronavirus.
The emergency package includes
low-cost loans, grants and technical assistance.
The action comes as leaders
around the world pledge to shield their countries from the economic impact of
the outbreak.
It follows warnings that
slowdown from the outbreak could tip countries into recession.
The aid is intended to help countries
improve their public health response to the crisis, as well as work with the
private sector to reduce the economic impact.
“What we’re trying to do is
limit the transmission of the disease,” World Bank Group President David
Malpass told the BBC.
The organisation said it would
prioritise the poorest and most at-risk countries in distributing the aid to
counter the effects of the virus, which has spread to more than 70 countries
around the world.
Half of the package comes from
the bank’s International Finance Corporation, which works with the private
sector. About $4bn of the $12bn is being shifted from previously available funds.
Countries with weak health
systems, limited financial resources and close economic links with China are
said to be most vulnerable to the coronavirus outbreak.
The countries most at risk to
the economic impact of the outbreak are Sri Lanka, Vietnam, and the
Philippines, according to a
vulnerability index by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI).
Oyo State Government has restated its administration’s commitment to
accord more priority to the education sector.
The Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde stated this in Ibadan at the
opening of a two day policy dialogue workshop with stakeholders on “Better
Education Service Delivery for All”, organized by World Bank in collaboration
with Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC.
Engineer Makinde, speaking through the state Commissioner for Education,
Professor Kehinde Sangodoyin implored all stakeholders in the education
sector to cooperate with the present administration in eradicating increasing
number of out-of-school children in the state.
Engineer Makinde hinted that the present administration had jacked up
budgetary allocation to the sector from the previous administration 2-5% to 10 percent
, adding that to achieve the United Nations goals of Sustainable Development
Goals, massive deployment fund must be channeled towards education.
The Chairman Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, Dr.
Nureni Adeniran while disclosing that Oyo State was the only state in the South
West of the country to benefit from this World Bank initiative, noted that the programme
would help in eliminating child abuse and labor, improve health and hygiene,
promote self-reliance, increase economic growth and also enhance social
strength of the nation.
Dr. Adeniran also called for support from stakeholders to ensure a face
lift in the education sector.
