Imoke Lauds European Union On Projects In Cross River State

CALABAR, March 03, (THEWILL) - Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State has said that the European Union assisted programmes in the state have impacted positively on the lives of the citizenry.

Speaking while receiving the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. David Mcrae during a courtesy call in Calabar, Imoke averred that the State’s partnership and cooperation from the EU through a number of initiatives targeted at the people have improved their lives, saying that the state has shared the relationship extensively to meet its set targets especially in the area of water supply and sanitation.

Imoke said though the projects have reduced poverty level, the state has to do more to exceed the Millennium Development Goals of 2015 by being focused and as such it would strengthen its relationship with EU and partner it in its effort to acquire capacity building to attain its goals while appreciating the level of participation by EU which stimulates the state on the need to build institutions and infrastructure for the development of the people.

The Governor noted the need for the state to discuss with EU on a lot of issues affecting MPP9 especially in the areas of water and sanitation and solar energy because of their impact on the populace especially the border communities because it intends to model its programme after the EU, identifying challenges, faced by the State to include capacity building and sustainability.

He hoped the visit of the EU Ambassador to Cross River would strengthen the relationship between the duo for the state to be used as a model in the country as well as open doors for projects thereby strengthening the level of collaboration.

Earlier, the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. David Mcrae, who was in the state to inspect EU assisted projects, said they are of wide topics and have impacted on the people greatly, explaining that the inspection would afford them opportunity to assess the level of progress made while pledging to continue to partner Cross River.

Mcrae noted that what people need is good governance because of his belief that countries are not poor but people are poorly governed, saying that though the Union had completed MPP6 and was undergoing MPP9 in the state, it would afford him the opportunity to address the weakness of MPP6.

The Ambassador remarked that the Union works together with civil societies in the execution and supervision of projects with the aim of reducing poverty as well as attain MDGs, stressing that poverty can be reduced through the provision of water and sanitation.

He called for more projects, new things happening and hoped for a better working relationship between Cross River and European Union as both share the same vision and aspiration to make the state a better place to live in.