The level of implementation of FADAMA III Additional Financing (AF) program in Enugu State is described as worrisome by the Task Team Leader, World Bank Office in Nigeria, Dr Adetunji Oredipe.

Oredipe urged state government to show the political will by paying the counterpart funds for the project, so as to make room for additional fund withdraw-able from the capital set aside.

He made this comment in Enugu on Thursday during the World Bank/FGN Joint Mid-Term Review Mission tour of the state, while decrying the level of implementation of the project in the state.

Oredipe the state was expected to make provision for 25 million U.S. dollars between 2014 and 2017, but that it had only made 3.15 million dollars available.

He however said the case is different in other states like Niger, where its FADAMA project had reached 70 percent completion compared with Enugu State recording only 12.8 percent completion.

Oredipe said the non-payment of the fund, has hampered the progress of FADAMA project.

He lamented that despite the ”˜free’ money from the World Bank, Enugu State, which is looking forward to developing itself, could not take advantage of it at such critical stage in national life.

“As far as Enugu State is concerned, we have not performed with regard to FADAMA III AF project. The project in other states has reached 70 per cent completion; Enugu State has to go faster than it has gone,” Oredipe said.

Oredipe confirmed the FADAMA III AF project cost a 200-million-dollar ably sponsored by the World Bank in six core states.

“We are here to review the first phase of the implementation as well as review the targets,” he affirmed.

According to him, the project was challenged by some constraints when it started but showed significant improvement on all areas.

Oredipe, did not fail to commend Enugu State Project Coordinator (SPC), Mr Ikechukwu Ogboke, for his passionate effort in ensuring the success of the project in the state despite the glaring challenges.

Chief Ogbonna Idike, the Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Agriculture, assured that although the state is yet to pay the arrears of counterpart funds, it was interested in the project. And he assured of the state governor’s willingness to pay the money in due course.