Governor Uba Sani has promised that Kaduna State can be a model for effective donor-funded World Bank projects in Nigeria, with its strengthened systems and consistent leadership.
The governor, who received the Regional Vice President of the World Bank, Mr Ousmane Diagana, on Wednesday at Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, commended the bank for supporting Kaduna State on a diverse portfolio of projects.
According to him, the projects are ‘’aimed at improving education, healthcare, infrastructure, environmental resilience, agriculture, and social welfare.”
He said: “These projects have not only reinforced the state’s development agenda but have also contributed to reducing poverty and enhancing the quality of life across various sectors.”
Sani said the state looks ‘’forward to strengthening the existing partnerships with the World Bank and exploring new areas of collaboration.’’
He listed the eight projects that the World Bank is funding in the state, totaling over $885 million, which include the Adolescent Girls’ Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) Project, with $80 million in credit.
The governor said that the AGILE Project has advanced secondary education opportunities for adolescent girls, achieving over 70% disbursement and notable progress in school infrastructure and enrolment campaigns.
He disclosed that the Accelerating Nutrition Results Nigeria (ANRiN) Project has been fully disbursed and now closed, adding, ‘’The $17 million health and nutrition project significantly improved nutrition services for pregnant and lactating women, adolescents, and children, helping reduce maternal and child mortality.’’
According to him, the state has also benefitted from the Nigeria Covid-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programme (NG-CARES), which is Designed as a COVID-19 recovery effort.
Sani said: ‘’This $20 million project is supporting vulnerable households and small enterprises. Approximately 45% has been disbursed and fully utilised to date.’’
He disclosed that Kaduna State has drawn from a $700 million pool of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL), adding that the project addresses land degradation and climate resilience through watershed management and afforestation.
The governor disclosed that over $5.8 million has been disbursed, with implementation gathering momentum.
On Kaduna State Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (KADRAAMP), he said: ‘’This $20 million rural infrastructure project is enhancing agricultural market access through rural road rehabilitation.
“Half the loan has been utilised, and requests for 2025 counterpart funding are under review.’’
According to him, the state’s portion of the $700 million Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation And Hygiene (SURWASH) Programme is progressing, with over $4.2 million drawn down.
The governor disclosed that more than ₦11.5 billion has already been committed as counterpart funding by Kaduna State government.
He disclosed that 30% of the $20 million has been disbursed to the implementation of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support(L-PRES) Project which began in early 2024.
Sani said that the Immunization Plus & Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT) Project is targeting immunization and malaria reduction.
He said that under 50% of the IMPACT $18 million project has been disbursed, adding that implementation continues with an emphasis on increasing coverage and service transformation.
