The Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises-Niger Delta (LIFE-ND) Project, in Umuahia, Abia state, on Friday flagged off it’s rural infrastructure development program.
According to Dr. Uchenna Rowland Onyeizu, the project co-coordinator, revealed that the project cuts across different commuties in Abia State.
His word: “We are doing this across each communities and we are doing this to support agro business activities across the communities.
“We decided to do a flag off, just to emphasize on what we are doing along side the main empowerment that is ongoing at our various communities”.
The flag off had in attendance stakeholders of the projects such as the consultants and contractors that will execute the project as document on the blue print of LIFE-ND.
Dr. Uchena also revealed that LIFE-ND project is funded by a loan from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), collected on behalf of the Niger-Delta states by the federal government of Nigeria.
The Abia LIFE-ND Rural infrastructure officer Engr. Chimaobi Otutubuike, through demographic presentation displayed and explained the blue print of the designs for the project for a clearer interpretation to the contractors.
While answering questions fed by pressmen on the number of contracts yet to be executed by LIFE-ND, Dr. Uchenna said the number of contracts are on rolling bases, which has to begin by finalizing with the community stakeholders due to the fact that the land where poultries will be built will be donated by the communities.
He also attributed the covid-19 pandemic and delay of funds to the speedy conclusion of the phases of the project.
His words: “The project do not have money, we didn’t budget for the purchase of land, so the communities finalizes the issue of land donation, and the conditions behind those land donations.
“So, for now we have six different contracts for the communities. For poultry we have two, for land development we have two, for road construction we have three i.e for Ukwa east, Obi-Ngwa, Isi-alangwa, and Ohafia for now. These are places we have been able to finalize land issues at the moment.” Dr. Uchenna revealed.
It was also revealed that LIFE-ND target was 100 communities, 50 out of the 100 communities is on course while another 50 community will come on board by April.
Dr. Uchenna also highlighted the challenges of Abia LIFE-ND to be agreement on the donation of land by the communities approached.
” This kick off should have started as far back as last month but .Most communities are finding it difficult to give us these lands, infact their reasons was that former projects where they donated lands neva kept to their agreement and it’s taking us a lot of advocacy and sensitization to convince them that we are different and serious. Infact, most of the land we are using for development were actually donated by the state government. We planned to develop 4,000 hectares of land as we speak, we don’t even have up to 100 hectares of land” Dr. Uchenna revealed.
Candidreporters.com earlier reported that LIFE-ND has commenced the training of incubators(trainees) and advertisement of consultants to execute the project.
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Good morning
Am comr. Chinyere Friday from UMUANUM village Akpaa Osokwa osisioma Ngwa LGA ABIA
A farmer and Agro processor am into cassava ,tumeric, rice ,maize and pepper farming.
On the area of processing I processed and packed unique Ngwa Garri, tumeric spices, ginger powder, plantain flour and red Oil .
I have won several awards from ABIA State Government through the ministry of Agriculture.
I am the first ever commercial upland rice farmer in osisioma Ngwa, 2017, 2019.
One of the well known tumeric farmer in area, you can ask who is who in Agriculture about chinyere Friday my number is 08027714383,
But is unfortunate that the day I visited the office I was not given ordinance, even at the training center the admin was Soo arrogant.
On the area of incubator and incubatees my own ward was not selected, sir is easy to take horse to water but you cannot forced the to drink water, politicians has done theirs by butting in there community and wards I don’t know how fruitful it has been. Please go back to your drawing board identify those that we keep the flag flying Tru traditional and wards bass select.
Invite me for a chat or other information am always available.