MDGs record successes in Nigeria

“We have also provided more than 500 hands pump and boreholes; we have provided 150 motorised pumps with reticulated facilities up to points where people could easily access water,” he said.

Gai attributed the success so far recorded to the political will by the Federal Government and the state government, especially in regular payment of counterpart funds.

He, however, said security challenge had impeded the speed of the execution of some projects.

Mr Allwell Eneh, Communication Officer in Rivers MDGs office, said the state government had equipped 66 out of the 170 new primary health centres across the state to meet the goals.

He said the MDGs had also built classroom blocks for four fishermen communities and renovated over 150 room-hostel blocks at the state College of Health Sciences and Technology.

“The MDGs office is constructing a new College of Nursing Sciences at the former location of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital,” he said.

According to him, the government has provided water supply to some communities such as Suku and Kula in Akuku Toru Local Government Area of the state.

“This also includes the completion of 50, 000 gallons of water pumping stations with five kilometre reticulation in Ohim-Oyoro and Eberi-Obioha communities, among others,” he said.

But in Kaduna State, Malam Abdullahi Lere, the Technical Assistant on MDGs, said insufficient funds from the MDGs office had challenged the achievements so far recorded.

He said the state, nonetheless, recorded more than 40 per cent reduction in maternal mortality through free medical care for pregnant women and children under five.

He said tremendous improvement was recorded in health and education, while there was a tremendous reduction in poverty level.

Mr Steve Akpan, the Special Assistant on MDGs in Akwa Ibom, said by 2015, Akwa Ibom would have met six targets the goals.

He said the targets of the government were on eradication of extreme poverty and hunger, attainment of universal primary education, promotion of gender equality and women empowerment.

“Others are reduction of child mortality, improvement of maternal health and provision of water and basic sanitation,” he said.

Akpan said that some indigent persons had also benefited from Conditional Cash Transfer of the programme.