A total of 23 communities from 10 LGAs in Abia State have been picked to benefit from the Abia State Agency for Community and Social Development Project, as approved by Governor Alex Otti.
The projects that were submitted to the state government as the most important needs in their localities, are to be constructed in three weeks, starting from the day of the disbursement next week.
Speaking at the event, Governor Alex Otti, who was represented by Rev Fr. Christian Anokwuru, his Special Adviser on Policies and Interventions, said he is in a hurry to develop every part of the state.
Also, the General Manager of Abia State Agency for Community and Social Development Project, Ekejiuba Ekpo, while speaking on Thursday during a training programme for members of the Community Project Monitoring Committee, CPMC, from the benefitting communities, said that the agency would carry out strict monitoring and evaluation of the construction of projects in the communities to ensure that the funds given to the communities are not embezzled or fraudulently diverted.
According to him, the Abia State Government is contributing 95 per cent of the funds, while the benefitting communities are contributing 5 per cent counterpart funds, even though he said that community development officers from LGAs have been deployed to also monitor the projects.
He noted that Governor Alex Otti is interested in developing every part of the state, especially the rural communities where basic amenities are lacking.
The general manager, who tasked the members of the Project Monitoring Committee to ensure transparency, accountability and dedication, warned that the funds would be thoroughly audited to ensure that they tallied with the quality of jobs executed.
The 23 benefiting communities are Amaeke-Alayi, Uhabiri, Ohokobe, Umuode Nsulu, Ndiaku, Ugwunagbo, Ogbuebele, Oria Na Agu, Abala and Nunya.
Others are Avonkwu, Ndiokereke Abam, Amaeke Isiegbu, Ajata Okwuru, Umuodeche , Ndiudumukwu, Nsukwe, Amato Isingwu and Umuawa Alaocha.
The rest are Umuajiji Isieke, Mbato Ofoeme and Mbom Afarata communities.
The projects to be executed include primary health centres, water boreholes, and the reconstruction of school buildings.