Governor Idris Expresses Displeasure Over AGILE Project

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Governor Idris Expresses Displeasure Over AGILE Project Implementation in Kebbi

By Imran Musa, Birnin Kebbi

Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State has expressed dissatisfaction with the implementation of the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) project in the state, saying he is not impressed with its performance so far.

The governor stated this when he received a delegation from the AGILE project and the World Bank, led by the Task Team Lead, Mr. Shinsaku Namura, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Birnin Kebbi.

Governor Idris, who reiterated his administration’s strong commitment to education, said his government places a high premium on teachers’ welfare and educational infrastructure. He emphasized that his administration believes in the prudent management of resources and will not misuse state funds, particularly loan resources.

The governor frowned at the disqualification of indigenous contractors by the project, citing a N7.8 billion contract as an example. He maintained that Kebbi State has competent local contractors capable of executing any project and called for fairness and transparency in all AGILE activities within the state.

Governor Idris disclosed that he would meet with the AGILE team in Abuja next week to discuss and address the challenges hindering the effective implementation of the project in Kebbi. He thanked the delegation for their visit and assured them of his administration’s continued support for the success of the AGILE project, as well as its unwavering commitment to improving the education sector.

Earlier in his remarks, the Task Team Lead and Senior Economist for the AGILE project, Mr. Shinsaku Namura, thanked the Kebbi State Government for the warm reception extended to the team during their two-day visit.

He appreciated the partnership between the World Bank and the state government and commended Governor Idris for his efforts toward improving the quality of education in Kebbi.

Namura revealed that the AGILE project, now in its third year, is being implemented in 18 states and will continue for another three years. He explained that the visit to Kebbi was to assess progress, identify challenges, and explore ways to enhance project delivery.

The team lead further appealed to the governor to address funding challenges and expedite payments related to the project to enable Kebbi’s AGILE team to participate in an implementation meeting scheduled for next week in Abuja.