More than 33.9 million naira (about 260,000 US dollars) have been disbursed to 30 communities in Nigeria's northern state of Bauchi under a World Bank program for sustainable environment, an official said Monday.

The program entitled "Local Empowerment and Environment Initial Management Project" is funded by the International Development Association (IDA) for the next three years, said Alhaji Nasiru Shehu, coordinator of the World Bank project.

Shehu told reporters that 10 communities had been selected from each of three local government areas designated for the project in the northern state.

"Each of the 30 communities located in Giade, Warji and Tafawa Belewa local government areas is eligible to get a credit worth 50, 000 dollars," he said.

According to the coordinator, the focus of the project is to enhance the capacity of the rural people to address their own problems and to develop programs that could contribute positively to the environment.

Shehu said a multi-sectorial implementation team, consisting of engineers, community development officers, accountants and nature conservation officers, had been formed for each area. Each community would select its project, draw its budget and execute it, based on its priority, he added.

At present, he said, work was going on in the 30 communities in the areas of road construction, water supply, construction of health facilities, classroom blocks, agricultural processing, income generation activities and afforestation.

"I believe the program will help reduce poverty, engender economic activities at the rural areas and check the degradation of the environment," he said.

Source: Xinhua