In an innovative partnership, the Zamfara government has joined forces with the World Bank to embark on a significant infrastructure project. A total of 70 kilometers of feeder roads are slated to be constructed across the state, aimed at bolstering support for farmers within rural communities.
Funding for this crucial endeavor is being sourced from the World Bank’s Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) initiative. This undertaking was revealed during a joint press conference held in Gusau, where the NG-CARES State Coordinating Unit (SCCU) and the State Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA) collaboratively organized the event.
Mukthtar Ibrahim, the State’s NG-CARES Coordinator, underscored the primary objective of these road projects: to facilitate seamless access for rural farmers to their agricultural lands and simplify the transportation of their produce.
Under the stewardship of Governor Dauda Lawal, the Zamfara government is set to allocate over N6 billion across three key focus areas of the NG-CARES initiative: roads, education, health, empowerment, water and sanitation, as well as nutrition projects spanning the entire state.
In a bid to uplift the marginalized, Ibrahim articulated, “We are committed to empowering 8,000 women and 2,000 men from disadvantaged households scattered throughout the state.”
Umar Nakwada, the General Manager of CSDA, emphasized that the state government’s ambitions extend beyond roads and into the realm of education. Plans encompass comprehensive renovation and equipping of 60 secondary schools distributed across 14 local government areas.
Moreover, the scope of transformation involves the renovation and equipping of significant educational institutions including the College of Health Sciences and Technology in Tsafe, the Zamfara State College of Art and Sciences (ZACAS), and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Permanent Orientation Camp situated in Tsafe.
These projects underscore the government’s commitment to bolstering socio-economic well-being, enhancing educational and infrastructural development, and ultimately fostering economic growth within the state.
Nakwada elucidated further, stating, “An array of additional initiatives is poised for implementation, including the comprehensive refurbishment of 14 general hospitals, the upgrade of Nasarawa Burkullu Primary Health Center (PHC) to a general hospital, and the complete renovation of three PHCs within Gusau and Maru LGAs.”
Highlighting the importance of sustainable resources, Nakwada added, “A total of 76 solar-motorized boreholes will be strategically deployed across the state, alongside a dedicated nutrition program catering to women, infants, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) across the entire region.”
As part of the NG-CARES Labor Intensive Public Workfare (LIPW) initiative, the government is poised to offer immediate employment opportunities to 900 unemployed youths and women residing within the state, further enhancing prospects for economic advancement and empowerment.
