The Fadama 111 project in Enugu, says it has disbursed N21.5 million to 15 Fadama Community Associations (FCAs) and Fadama User groups (FUGs) in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the disbursement brings the total amount disbursed so far to N123 million.
The state Project Coordinator, Mr Jude Ogboke, said in Enugu on Wednesday that this was the third tranche of cheques disbursed since he assumed office in February.
Ogboke said the money would be used for the execution of projects like cold room, access roads to farms, bridges, culverts, boreholes, markets and storage facilities.
He said the others included, purchase of agro-processing machines, poultry, fishery and animal husbandry.
According to him, the beneficiaries are drawn from Enugu East, Nkanu West, Awgu, Isiuzo, Oji-River, Udenu and Igboeze North Local Government Areas.
“For those of you that are collecting their money, we hope that you will complete your projects in the next three weeks.
“Identify your projects properly, showing the name of the group, contact address and amount collected.
“The projects are yours, treat it as your business and report anybody trying to extort money from you to this office because you will account for all the money given to you, ’’ he said.
Ogboke reminded them that the aim of the project was to eradicate poverty from their communities and warned that they should not divert or misuse the money.
He warned that Enugu State Government had set up a monitoring team to investigate the implementation and usage of Fadama disbursed funds in the state.
The state project coordinator said that any groups, who did not complete their projects, would be prosecuted.
He also said that groups that performed very well would be upgraded to join the state commercial agriculture groups.
In his remarks, Mr Patrick Ayogu, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, said that the State Government had `zero-tolerance’ for corruption.
He said that a monitoring team would visit all project sites to ascertain their level of implementation.
He reminded them that the money given to them was for agriculture and should not be diverted.
Mr Gabriel Omeh and Mrs Beatrice Ogbu, who collected cheques on behalf of their groups, commended the State Government for its kind gesture and promised that they would use the money judicious. (NAN)