Gov Sheriff not happy with basin officials

“For any federal project to be meaningful in any state, you have to carry people along because you are executing the project for them. I am really surprised that I have never received any briefing on any capital project from the Chad Basin Managing Director. It is an irony that I am here as the […]

“For any federal project to be meaningful in any state, you have to carry people along because you are executing the project for them. I am really surprised that I have never received any briefing on any capital project from the Chad Basin Managing Director. It is an irony that I am here as the governor but not aware of any federal project going on in my state,” he declared.

The governor charged that it would be difficult for projects being executed by the federal government to succeed in any state without collaborating with the host state government.

He said there was need for collaboration or communication at least to avoid duplication of projects in the event both the host government and that of the federation embark on similar projects without knowing, as a result of which so much money becomes wasted.

Sheriff noted that it was only through the Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources that he realised there were on ongoing federal projects being executed by the Chad Basin in Borno State. He stressed that he was making the complaint bearing in mind the importance of such projects which were essential to livelihood, stressing that there was always the need for partnership amongst tiers of government for progress.   

Earlier, acting chairman of the House Committee on Water Resources, Mohammed Monguno (ANPP, Borno State) said the committee was in the state to assess the level of progress of some water projects as part of its oversight functions of the federal legislature. “We have to go out to see what is on ground whether or not there is compliance with the budgetary allocation for the project in the 2009 Appropriation,” he noted.

Monguno said about N1.2 billion had been earmarked for the transfer of water from the Congo Basin to the Lake Chad to boost irrigation. He however said the project was being slowed by difficulties faced by the Chad Basin to assess the funds even though he hoped that the funds would be assessed any time soon.