Japan gives N30m grant for Abuja bridge, classrooms, toilets

The bridge which is to be built across Usman river in Gwagwa, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) will gulp $100,216. The project is to be executed by a local body called Umuago Rural Development Union. The second project is to be sited in a private primary school owned by a charity called Bema Homes in […]

The bridge which is to be built across Usman river in Gwagwa, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) will gulp $100,216. The project is to be executed by a local body called Umuago Rural Development Union.
The second project is to be sited in a private primary school owned by a charity called Bema Homes in Sauka, AMAC. The $96,792 project details include: construction of  a block of six classrooms, a staffroom, headmaster’s room with toilet, a block of four toilets, provision of 150 sets of desks and chairs for students, a bookshelf, six tables and six chairs for teachers and six blackboards.
Shortly before signing of the contract agreement, the ambassador of Japan to Nigeria, Mr Ryuichi Shoji said he saw need to construct the Gwagwa bridge because farmers suffer a lot crossing the Usman river to access their farmlands during the rainy season.
“In fact, some farmers have lost their lives. To resolve this problem, the Embassy of Japan decided to finance the project proposed by Umuago Rural Development Union to construct Gwagwa bridge over the river, thus linking the two divided areas of the district,” the envoy explained.
The ambassador said, “Signing of the two projects symbolises the concern and the friendship of the Japanese people towards the Nigerian people. I hope that the projects will bring about a better life for the Nigerian people in the communities.”
He said the projects are supported by a scheme called Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP).
GGP is a Japanese assistance scheme known for its pro-poor approaches in Nigeria, meeting diverse needs and bringing a direct impact on the well-being of grassroots communities.
The ambassador promised that the signing of the contract documents will be backed by monitoring to ensure the projects are well executed.
The representative of Umuago Rural Development Union, Livy Nwangwa said his organization did the drawings for the bridge and they have been approved by AMAC. AMAC he said will supervise the project.
Benedicta Jereke who signed the contract agreement on behalf of Bema Homes said before she built a school in Sauka, nine villages there were without a school.
According to her, when the contract is executed, 350 children will be accommodated and this will shore up literacy level.
 The Japanese government has said it will continue to assist in funding community-based projects in Nigeria.