Agency provides border communities with N270m social amenities
NAN-H-10
Projects
By Shuaibu Tatu
Bagudo (Kebbi State), Jan. 20, 2017 (NAN) The Border Community Development Agency (BCDA) has awarded N270 million contracts for the provision of social amenities for border communities in Bagudo Local Government Area in Kebbi State.
Mr Numoipire Wills, the Executive Secretary of the agency, announced this in the border town of Tungan Kungi, a neighbouring community with Republic of Benin, on Friday.
Wills said out of the amount, a rice milling centre was established to enable small scale farmers in the area to process their agricultural produce, specifically rice, which is produced in commercial quantity.
He listed other contracts awarded as the construction of four houses of 1-2 bedroom bungalows in Tungan Bagiri, also a neighbouring community with Benin republic.
He said the houses were built in order to enhance social interaction between the people of Nigeria and Benin Republic.
He said the houses were equipped with solar powered boreholes to make them accessible and habitable by beneficiaries.
Willis further explained that a nomadic primary school was also constructed with six blocks of classrooms, toilets and office accommodation for the headmaster.
According to him, the project is to facilitate learning of nomadic children and other members of the community.
“The BCDA also constructed a primary health centre with solar powered borehole in Kwakwaba village, Dandi Local Government Area, also bordering Benin Republic,’’ he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Special Duties, Nasiru Zangon-Daura, said at the event that the committee was tasked with overseeing activities of the agency.
Zangon-Daura said 2,000 communities in 105 local government areas had so far benefitted from a variety of developmental projects by the Federal Government under the agency.
The lawmaker said the essence of the projects was to bring socio-economic development to the border communities; as well as to boost the image of Nigeria as a mother of Africa.
Malam Hamidu Dobi, the Village Head of the community, expressed appreciation to the federal government for the projects.
Dobi said the projects would give his people a sense of belonging and make them have confidence in governance.
NAN reports that the people of Gesaye village presented a gift of a cow to officials of BCDA as a show of appreciation for the projects. (NAN)
SZT/BKD/DOR/MST
Edited by Nyisom Dore/Muhammad Suleiman Tola