Akeredolu reiterates commitment to check rural-urban migration

THE Ondo State Governor, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), on Tuesday reiterated his commitment to check the rate of rural-urban migration by making development available to people in places where they reside.

Akeredolu made this known during the official presentation of cheques worth N167 million to the first set of benefiting communities under the Community and Social Development Project (CSDP) Additional Financing in Akure.

He said the programme, organised by Ondo State Community and Social Development Agency, would help in actualising the plan of the present administration to address the issue of rural-urban migration.

“The cheques are to kick-start the implementation of self-help projects. The 19 communities are the first beneficiaries.

“Let me assure you that we will strive to continually meet our obligations of State counterpart funding to CSDP in order to ensure seamless flow of developmental projects in our communities.

“I enjoin all the selected communities to own the projects and sustain them,” he said.

Earlier, Mr Bosun Ogundipe, General Manager, Ondo State Community and Social Development Agency, said the World Bank-assisted Community and Social Development Projects’ overall goal is to improve access of the poor to services for human development.

“The projects’ developmental objective is to support empowerment of communities and local government authorities for increased access of the poor people to improved social and natural resources infrastructure service in a sustainable manner.

“CSDP implementation strategy is a bottom up community-driven development (CDD) approach.

“This implementation strategy allows communities plan, part finance, implement, monitor and maintain sustainable and socially inclusive multi sectorial micro-projects, with special consideration for the gender and vulnerable members of the society.

“Ninety-two Community Development Plans were recommended for approval by the Local Government Review Committees, which translated to over 270 community self-help projects that were delivered by the Community Project Management Committees before the close of the first phase of CSDP,” he said.

Speaking with journalists, one of those who received the cheques, Mr Gbenga Doyeni, from Ibile Community in Ondo-East Local Government, expressed gratitude to the Ondo State Government.

“It has become a reality. We have just been given cheques to embark on projects that will be beneficial to our people.

“We will do our best because these projects are ours,” he said.