The Benue State Government has said it will collaborate with the United Nations Office for Project Services, UNOPS, for the development of infrastructure and procurement of agricultural and health equipment for the state.
Gov. Samuel Ortom stated this during a presentation by UNOPS led by Dr. Mrs. Priscilla Achakpa, Partnerships Specialist and officer in charge of UNOPS in the Gambia, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone.
The Governor said he was impressed by the presentation and directed the newly sworn in Special Adviser to the Governor on Development Cooperation, SDGs and NEPAD, Dr. Magdalyne Dura, the Head of Service and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture to work out specific areas of interest for partnership.
The Governor noted that all the areas mentioned if properly explored would add value to the development of the state with minimal cost.
Dr. Priscilla Achakpa in her presentation identified sustainable infrastructure, sustainable procurement and sustainable project management as areas of partnership, saying such could be done at advisory, implementation or transactional levels.
She stated that UNOPS was currently assisting in the execution of projects in Sierra Leone and Ghana in the construction of feeder roads and provision of agricultural equipment.
Dr. Achakpa, noted that the UN agency does not deal with private individuals, but works only with government and on projects that are development oriented and have direct impact on the people.
She said UNOPS projects are usually executed at almost 50 percent subsidised rate.
