The failure of the Niger Delta Development Commission to release its $30 million counterpart funding into ongoing Livelihood Improvement Family Enterprises Project for the Niger Delta has denied 1, 3500 women and youths in three state the empowerment benefits.
The International Fund for Agricultural Development assisted LIFE-ND involving agro skills and entrepreneurship training for youths in the Niger Delta was initiated by Federal Government since 2019 to check youth restiveness through job creation, enhance food security and economic development with the livelihoods the programme provide.
The LIFE-ND National Coordinator, Abiodun Sanni disclosed this during the launch of the Certification of the project into an Entrepreneurship Development Institute by the Nirsal Micro Finance Bank in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Sanni said Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Imo states were yet to come on board because the NDDC defaulted, while six others state have gained so much.
Sanni said, “With the launch the project as an Entrepreneurship Development Institute by the NMFB, we are set to catalyze the LIFE-ND of training youths and women of the Niger Delta with the benefit of certification and access to finance through NMFB.
“We are supposed to interface with nine states in the region, but currently running in six. NDDC is expected to pay a counterpart fund of $30 million within a span of six years, just as IFAD is promptly putting in $60 million for Abia, Bayelsa, Cross Rivers, Edo, Delta and Ondo states.
“Akwa Ibom, Rivers and Imo are yet to come on board because the NDDC is yet to pay their counterpart funds required to enlist these three states.
“The project targets 38,750 beneficiaries, but nonpayment by NDDC has reduced beneficiaries to 25,250 which is not commendable.
“This has lingered for over three years. We have done all we can to ensure NDDC lives up to its responsibility, but up till now, we have not been able to get the commitment needed from the commission.
“So what we have achieved so far is for the six states being funded by IFAD.
“A project that could have ensured that youths in these three states have tremendously benefited from this goodwill has not manifested because the commission has failed to meet up its responsibility.”
He added, “The project is supposed to end 2025. We are hitting the third year mark and a lot have been achieved in respect of the six states currently onboard.”
