From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
The Federal Governemnt, yesterday, disclosed that 23 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) received N24.450 billion from the Conditional Grant Schemes.
Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, who was guest of the Ministerial Media Briefing organized by the Presidential Communications Team at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Thursday, explained that the funds were incentives to states to invest into areas of national development priorities and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)/Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
She explained that the fund, which has been disbursed since 2015, was established in 2007 with a 50 percent marching grant from the Federal Government and a 50 per cent marching grant from the participating states.
She said the grants were targeted at education, health, water and sanitation projects”and aimed at executing pro-poor projects in a consultative manner with the beneficiaries.”
Orelope-Adefulire, stressed that the money was spent on the implementation of 732 water and sanitation facilities, 494 health facilities (new facilities and renovation/rehabilitation); 616 education facilities (new construction, renovation/rehabilitation of block of classrooms; 1,150 women and men were empowered/trained in vocational skills, such as sewing, knitting, detergent and pomade making etc.)
The SDGs chief stated that special intervention projects were being implemented across the geopolitical zones, an initiative she stated was aimed at strategic investment to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs in Nigeria.