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Governor Yahaya Bello’s prudence and transparency in the management of public funds, as demonstrated in His Excellency’s recent refund of the sum of 4.63 million dollars surplus fund under the Kogi State Nigerian Erosion and Watershed, has earned him a deserved commendation from the World Bank.
Shubham Chaudhuri, the World Bank Country Director commended Governor Bello for his sense of prudence in the management of public funds, which he described as a quality of a true leader.
In her reaction to the development, the Kogi State Project Coordinator of NEWMAP, Barr. Ladi Ahmed Jatto, who was visibly elated by the development, said the commendation was a reflection of the good leadership style of the Yahaya Bello led administration.
According to her, Kogi NEWMAP will not by anyway be affected adversely by this act; the State had surplus after all commitments on the ongoing projects; it’s only normal to refund the balance at the closure, but His Excellency opted to assist a State in deficit.
On the project implementation, she reiterated that “works are ongoing in four priority sites, while the Kogi State Government had already carried out the Engineering Designs, and all necessary studies that usually cause delay in implementation , for Ankpa, Ugwolawo, Etahi, Kabba Bunu and Idah. These designs have been cleared by the World Bank, and SHALL be accommodated in the second phase of NEWMAP/ACRESAL project, after the current extension”, she said.
She noted that the surplus refunded was what paved way for the recent extension being enjoyed by the Project, nationwide, to enable the completion of ongoing works under NEWMAP States.
She thanked Governor Bello for giving the organisation a free hand to operate, and assured that the organisation would continue to fulfill its mandate to the people of the State.
