Niger Govt. approves N87m balance of IFAD counterpart fund


The Niger Government has approved N87 million balance of 2016 counterpart funds to execute projects under the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in the state.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Aliyu Abdullahi, revealed this in Minna on Wednesday during a courtesy visit to the ministry by the IFAD/Federal Government`s supervision team on rice and cassava value chain.
According to him, before the coming of this regime payment of counterpart fund for this programme was not encouraging.
``But we have vowed that in spite of paucity of funds with regards to the balance of N87 million for 2016 approval has been given.
``What we are waiting for now is the cash backing to ensure that the money is released toward the success of the programme in the state.
``As soon as we get revenue accruing to government we will release the money, `` he said.
Abdullahi said that the state government was partnering with the Federal Government and IFAD to improve the agricultural sector.
The commissioner said that one of the priorities of government was to resuscitate 18 dilapidated irrigation schemes across the state to improve dry season farming.
He commended IFAD for the execution of projects in the state, which he said was a huge success because farmers were already benefiting from them.
In his speech, Dr Sam Ereme, Mission Team Task Leader, had urged the state government to pay the balance of counterpart funds to ensure success of the programme.
``It is on record that Niger State Government has contributed N20 million in the last two years.
``We also learnt that government has approved N87 million for 2016, `` he said.
Earlier, Dr Mathew Ahmed, the State Programme Coordinator, said that the team`s visit to the state was to evaluate the programme.
According to him, they have come to check us, correct us and evaluate us.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme which commenced in August 2014 would run simultaneously as a pilot scheme in six states of Niger, Anambra, Benue, Ebonyi, Ogun and Taraba for six years.
NAN also reports that the benefiting states and IFAD would pay counter fund on the programme while the Federal Government would manage the national office of the fund.
NAN recalls that the fund had committed over $232.2 million since 1985 in Nigeria and had financed nine programmes. (NAN)

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