Nigeria FG spends 120 billion Naira on MDGs in 3 years

“30 million people benefited from the 30,000 projects executed under the MDGs in the country.”

Nigeria spent N120 billion implementing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the programme’s director, Oluwole Ebun, said at the 13th meeting of Conditional Grant Scheme (CGS) Focal Persons held in Kaduna. 

Ebun said that over 30 million people benefited from the 30,000 projects executed under the MDGs in the country.

“The CGS [Conditional Grant Scheme] is one of a number of initiatives, which have in the past years improved planning, projects management, governance and accountability,” he said. “There has also been a major boost in capital investments in key MDG sectors, in particular health, education, water and sanitation.”

A recent evaluation of the programme revealed tremendous success in many projects. Ebun, however, believed that there were still challenges in the implementation, investment branding, monitoring and reporting, maintenance and sustainability of completed projects.

He said that some states did not adhere to the provisions guiding the CGS procurement process and financial management, arguing that it negatively affected the effectiveness of the investments.

Earlier, Kaduna State’s Governor, Patrick Yakowa, said that the state’s engagement with the MDGs since 2007 had enhanced development strategies of the state. He added that the government accessed N4.344 billion for projects in the state.

Making a list of the made available to the state by the MDGs, the governor said it accessed N535 million in 2007, N985.5 million in 2008 and 849.9 million in 2009 under the CGS.

He said the state released N137.9million in 2007, N985.5 million in 2008, and 849.9 in 2009 as counterpart funds; these were used in the improvement of primary health care, education, construction of boreholes, procurement of drugs and furniture for hospitals.

The 36 states are expected to make performance presentations for the last three years of implementing the programmes.

-By Valerie Anofochi 

Source: DailyTimes