From Idris Ahmed, Lokoja.
The World Bank has commended Kogi state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello over his transparency and prudent management of public funds.
Shubham Chaudhuri, the World Bank Country Director, who made the commendation in an interaction with the Kogi state project Coordinator of NEWMAP, Barr. Ladi Ahmed Jato, noted with satisfaction the refund of the $4.63 million by the Governor Bello’s administration, describing the act as a sense of prudence in the management of public funds.
The visibly elated Kogi State Project Coordinator of NEWMAP, Barr. Ladi Ahmed Jatto, who thanked the World Bank for the recognition of Governor Bello’s transparency, said the commendation was a reflection of the good leadership style of the administration.
According to her, Kogi NEWMAP will always be guided by this credible act of the Governor, any time the state has surplus after all commitments on the ongoing projects, and will therefore follow suit to refund the balance.
Barr. Ladi Jatto Says NEWMAP Is Committed To Addressing Communities Challenges, Ecological Problems
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 of the Ankpa, Ugwolawo, Etahi, Kabba Bunu and Idah sites.
“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 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.
