UYO – The Ministry of Economic Development in Akwa Ibom State on Tuesday announced that four local government areas in the state had been selected by the European Union (EU) to host its micro projects.
The Head of Department of International Cooperation in the ministry, Mr Idongesit Ekpo, disclosed this in Uyo in a meeting with representatives of the four local government areas.
Ekpo said that 108 micro projects would be sited in the areas between now and 2015, adding that the projects were part of 800 of such schemes to be located by the EU in the Niger Delta region.
He listed the benefitting local government areas as Essien Udim, Ibiono Ibom, Onna and Urueoffong Oroko.
According to him, the projects will comprise mini-water scheme, health facilities, educational facilities, town halls or civic centres, cassava, oil palm and rice mills. [eap_ad_1] Ekpo explained that EU would provide 75 per cent of the funds for the projects while the local government areas would provide 25 per cent as counterpart funds.
He added that host communities would provide land and security for the projects and were expected to monitor the progress while work on them would be ongoing “and even when operational.”
Speaking on behalf of the benefiting areas, Chairman of Onna Local Government Area, Chief Ufot Akpan, commended the EU and the state government for the initiative.
Akpan said that the projects would create employment in the rural communities and enhance sustainable living for the people.
He said that the affected councils would support the projects by contributing their counterpart funds and play other roles expected of them. (NAN)
[eap_ad_4]