Gov. Ododo Commissions NG-CARES Water Project in Okene Community, Promises More Rural Development

...Urges Beneficiaries to Protect and Maintain Public Facilities

Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has commenced the commissioning of micro-projects executed under the Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) Programme, with the inauguration of a motorised borehole in Inipo Community, Obehira District of Okene Local Government Area.

The water project, implemented through the Kogi State Community and Social Development Agency (KSCSDA), is designed to provide potable water to residents of Inipo and neighbouring communities, thereby improving access to clean water and enhancing public health.

Represented at the event by the Executive Chairman of the Kogi State Local Government Service Commission, Alhaji Adams Adabenege, Governor Ododo said his administration remains committed to improving the living conditions of rural dwellers through the provision of essential infrastructure and social services.

According to him, the state government will continue to implement similar projects across the three senatorial districts to address the needs of underserved communities.

 "The administration of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo is committed to improving the standard of living of our people across Kogi State. This water project is one of several interventions aimed at bringing development closer to the grassroots," he said.

>"We will continue to invest in critical sectors such as water supply, healthcare, education, road infrastructure and rural development. Our goal is to ensure that no community is left behind in the development agenda of this administration."

Adabenege urged residents of Inipo Community to take ownership of the project by ensuring its proper maintenance and protection.

 "Government can provide these facilities, but their sustainability depends on the people. We therefore urge members of the community to safeguard this project and ensure that it serves both present and future generations," he added.

Speaking at the ceremony, the General Manager of the Kogi State Community and Social Development Agency, Alhaji (Chief) Dauda O. Momoh, explained that the NG-CARES programme is specifically targeted at rural and hard-to-reach communities lacking basic social amenities.

He noted that the agency serves as one of the delivery platforms for the NG-CARES Programme in Kogi State, working closely with communities to identify and execute projects capable of reducing poverty and improving livelihoods.

Momoh expressed appreciation to Governor Ododo for providing the necessary counterpart funding for the programme and assured residents that more development projects would soon be implemented across rural communities in the state.

 "We are grateful to His Excellency, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, for his unwavering support and commitment to community development. His administration has consistently demonstrated a genuine concern for the welfare of ordinary citizens," he said.

"The objective of this programme is not just to provide infrastructure but to empower communities, reduce poverty, combat hunger and promote self-reliance. We want rural communities to feel the impact of government interventions directly."

He explained that each Community Development Plan consists of at least two micro-projects and disclosed that Inipo Community would benefit from two additional projects in the near future.

 "I am particularly delighted that this project has been completed successfully. The community demonstrated transparency, commitment and cooperation throughout the implementation process. This is a model worthy of emulation by other benefiting communities."

 "We have already received additional requests from the community, including the installation of streetlights. Other interventions may focus on healthcare, education or other priority areas identified by the people. We are committed to addressing these needs as resources become available."

Momoh further revealed that, under the agency's work plan for the NG-CARES Additional Financing Programme, more communities across the state would benefit from the partnership between the Kogi State Government and the World Bank.

He, however, warned Community and Group Management Committees against violating project guidelines, stressing that any individual or group found guilty of mismanagement or diversion of resources would face sanctions and possible blacklisting.

The traditional rulers of the benefiting communities, the Anoba of Odenku, Drisu Yusuf, and the Head of Arigo Community, Wotu Jatto, expressed gratitude to the state government and the agency for providing the long-awaited water facility.

 "This intervention has brought immense relief to our people. For years, residents travelled long distances in search of water. Today, that burden has been significantly reduced," the traditional rulers said.

 "We commend Governor Ododo and the Community and Social Development Agency for remembering our community. This project will improve the health and wellbeing of our people and support economic activities in the area."

Also speaking, a community indigene, Saidatu Ahmed Zakari, whose late mother had championed efforts to attract the project to the area, described the commissioning of the borehole as a dream come true.

 "We are sincerely grateful to Governor Ododo for this life-changing intervention. Before now, women and children often trekked several kilometres, sometimes at night, just to fetch water. That difficult experience is now behind us."

 "My late mother worked tirelessly and advocated for years to see a project like this brought to our community. Though she is no longer with us, I believe her efforts have finally yielded results, and her soul will be happy knowing that her people now have access to clean drinking water."

Residents who attended the commissioning described the project as a major milestone in the development of Inipo Community and expressed optimism that additional interventions promised by the state government would further transform the area.