Ogun State Government has declared that it has met all its financial obligations to the FADAMA III project as it has paid up its counterpart funding of the project. The State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun made this declaration in Abeokuta when he hosted a World Bank/FGN supervision team on FADAMA III, promising that cheque for the 2012 counterpart fund would be released in due course.
Represented by the Secretary to the State government, Barrister Taiwo Adeoluwa, Governor Amosun revealed that since it came on board in May 2011, his administration had been supporting the FADAMA project than ever before. “I am able to tell you confidently that when we came in 2011, we actually paid N60 million to pay the outstanding arrears for 2009, 2010 and that of 2011” the Governor said. He therefore appealed that the State should be given priority when the next phase of the project is being planned. “When you are planning to determine who to benefit in the next phase of your programme, please let them know that Ogun State is up to date in its obligation” Amosun stated. Earlier in his address, leader of the team, Dr Seemthamby Manoharan of the World Bank noted that over 30,000 jobs had been created by FADAMA III project in the State. He hinted that the Federal Government had requested for additional funding of FADAMA project from the World Bank, saying the request was being considered due to the success recorded in the project in some States. The World Bank Official however noted that some Local Governments and user groups had been defaulting in the payment of their counterpart fund; a factor which he observed had been an impediment to achieving goals of the project wholly. Members of the World Bank/FGN supervision team on FADAMA III were drawn from the World Bank, Federal Ministries and Departments as well as the 36 States of the Federation.
Via: Ogun State Government - Official Press Release