Coordinator IFAD Urges State, Local Governments to Support Community Project Sustainability in Niger.
By Priscilla Dennis, Minna
Hajiya Hadizat Isah, the Niger State Coordinator of the Federal Government’s IFAD Value Chain Development Programme, has called on both state and local governments to assist communities in sustaining and maintaining various infrastructural facilities provided by the program.
She made this appeal during the handover of infrastructure facilities and the inauguration of committees in Wuya and Kantigi communities located in Edati Local Government Area.
Hajiya Hadizat explained that this initiative aims to improve the economic status of these communities by ensuring the long-term viability of the facilities established in various areas. She stated, “We have executed many projects in various participating local governments.
Today, we handed over two projects: one in Wuya, which includes market stalls, aggregation centers, and a borehole, and the other in Kantigi, which features a fully equipped rice and cassava processing center along with a solar-powered borehole for female processors, all included in IFAD’s 2024 budget.”
“All we ask of the benefiting communities is to sustain and maintain these facilities while working diligently to expand upon what we have provided.
This is the purpose of establishing Operation and Maintenance Committees in the areas to monitor and care for the infrastructures.”
Dr. Sunday Daniel Yisa, the chairman of Edati Local Government, who inaugurated the project monitoring committees, commended IFAD for its efforts in his council.
He urged the benefiting communities to effectively manage and maintain the facilities for the socio-economic progress of their communities and families.
Beneficiaries of the program, including Mallam Muhammadu Shabako, the village head of Wuya, and Mohammed Wuya, the secretary of Wuya, expressed their gratitude to IFAD and assured that they would utilize the facilities responsibly and ensure proper maintenance.
Hazaratu Kolo, one of the women rice and cassava processors in Kantigi, also expressed her appreciation to IFAD for providing a processing center, emphasizing that it would enhance their economic well-being and improve the quality of their products.