Kogi State government has been slated as one of the beneficiaries of $500 million World Bank facility meant for rural development in parts of the country.

The state Commissioner for Rural Development, Paul Enema, who disclosed this at a briefing in Lokoja, said the state government had already paid its counterpart-contribution towards the execution of rural projects.

He noted that under the scheme, the state government had earmarked the construction of 500-kilometre rural road in each of the 21 local government areas of the state. Enema said the execution of the road projects, billed to commence soon, was targeted at boosting road networks across the state for easy transportation of goods and services within and outside the state.

He re-affirmed the state government’s desire to continue to exhibit the spirit of justice and fair play in the provision of rural roads, rural electrification and rural potable water supply to all communities across the state.

“The ministry concentrated in embarking on rehabilitation, resuscitation and reticulation of all the existing water schemes in the period under review,” the Commissioner added.