Ortom Solicits World Bank Assistance to Develop Benue - Tahav Agerzua

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, has solicited assistance from the World Bank particularly in the agriculture, poverty reduction and capacity building sectors.
He made the disclosure when he paid a courtesy call on the country director of the bank, Marie Francoise Marie-Nelly, in her office in Abuja.

"I see the World Bank as a partner for progress, for adding value to the development of the state particularly in agriculture and poverty reduction," Governor Ortom stated.

"We solicit assistance in capacity building and other support programs, we'll partner with you and fulfill our obligations."  

According to him the bank has a reservoir of expertise in several areas which the state could leverage upon in the efforts to tackle challenges of development.

Governor Ortom pledged that his administration would fight corruption and reduce it to zero level in order to ensure that whatever is appropriated for projects will surely be utilized for that purpose.

In her response the country director, Marie-Nelly, disclosed that the bank had $4 billion available for investment in Nigeria in the remaining half of the year.

She listed areas of intervention to remove constraints to growth to include power generation and transmission, long term financing for sectors with growth potential and small, and medium enterprises as well as agricultural productivity.

Others, according to her, are quality health and education as well as efficiency of water supply.

Signed :

Tahav Agerzua,
Special Adviser,
Media and ICT.