Governor, Cross River State
by crossriverwatch admin
Cross River State has been picked as one of the states in Nigeria that is desirous of meeting the 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) target.
European Union (EU) Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr David Mac stated this at a two-day Policy Dialogue Towards the Development of a State Policy on Donor Coordination in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.
He expressed the readiness of EU to sustain collaboration with National Planning Commission (NPC) in ensuring that Nigeria, particularly Cross River State gets the required support in attaining the MDGs.
He noted that the choice of the State as one of the six focal States in the country for EU interventions is as a result of its leading role in EU programs.
Also Speaking, UNICEF Water, Sanitation and Health Specialist, Mr. Saaondo Anom praised the Government of the State for its prudent utilization of the Fund’s support in providing potable water and sanitation to several rural communities in the State.
He said due to the existence of a dependable tracking and monitoring mechanism, UNICEF, the State and the Fund have been enjoying mutual collaboration, which is translating into results that are positive in terms of tangible investments that have direct impact on the people.
Mr. Anom however expressed the need for the stakeholders to be regularly informed by governments at all levels about the flow of support they are getting at every point.
He urged Department of International Development support under the leadership of Mr. Roy Ndoma-Egba as Special Adviser to ensure a more transparent process of attracting donor support.
In his remark, the State Acting Governor, Mr. Efiok Cobham canvassed for the formulation of a sustainable donor policy that would ensure efficient coordination and smooth execution of all donor activities in the State.
He said this will identify essential stakeholders, specification of each of their roles and eventual engagement in the process to enable the State position itself properly for accessing and proper utilization of donor funds.
The Acting Governor said the absence of such policy has weakened the State’s determination to attract more donor partners and sustain efforts of the Government in meeting certain targets in relation to provision of critical infrastructure for the people, especially the rural dwellers, and sought the support of Civil Society and the Private Sector in the actualization of the policy.
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