Kano’s N300m counterpart-fund ready for NEWMAP, says Ganduje

THE KANO STATE GOVERNMENT has released the N300 million as its counterpart fund to facilitate the successful execution of the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP). Governor Umar Abdullahi Ganduje made the disclosure while receiving the , Salisu Dahiru,national co-ordinator of the project, during the distribution of Resettlement Action Plan’s (RAP) cheques to project affected persons in respect of construction of ‘Yansabo, Tofa Water Conservation Structures and provision of Minor Irrigation facilities held recently at Africa House, government house, Kano.

In his remarks, governor Ganduje appreciated the priority placed on the project by the sponsor, adding that the effort demonstrated towards earlier commencement of the project was what informed the release of the counterpart fund.

He sums up the importance of the project, that, “When completed it will provide various means of livelihood to our teeming population. That was conceived to provide farming opportunities and reduce flooding, and complementing government effort in the provision of food security to the state and the nation at large.”

Adding that, Kano has been a pacesetter in this direction, he said, “We have provided various interventions under the project package. As well as other interventions through various ministries, departments, and agencies.”

The distribution of the cheques to the affected persons, according to the governor, is to ensure that they legally take possession of the site and enable early commencement of the project. All the project affected persons will be compensated appropriately in line with the policy of the state, federal government and World Bank.”

Salisu Dahiru in his address commended what he described as the good working relationship between the Kano office of the project and the state, and noted with delight that the project office is the most transparent among all other offices in the country.

“World Bank adjudged Kano NEWMAP office as the most transparent office. Whenever there is any financial document to be considered, Kano gets approval first before any other state. Your Excellency it is worth noting that, your administration gives all necessary attention to this project. Whenever we have a project development document, we find it highly professional and skillful. That is why our project development document is always being copied by other states”. He explained.

The coordinator commended governor Ganduje for his unrelenting effort in making sure that, NEWMAP project succeed, revealing further that it is part of governor Ganduje’s effort that moves the Kano office forward. Kano was the only state that participated in China Conference, among others.