By: John Bassey, Kebbi.

Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State has expressed dissatisfaction with the progress of the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) programme in the state.

The Governor made this known when he received a delegation of the World Bank Team and National Project Team, led by Mr. Shinsaku Nomura, Task Team Leader and Senior Economist, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Birnin Kebbi, on Friday.

Governor Idris, a former President of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) and veteran labour leader, reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to giving the education sector the attention it deserves.

While welcoming the AGILE delegation to Kebbi State,the “Land of Equity”, the Governor expressed appreciation for their two-day working visit .

He reiterated that his administration places high priority on education, teachers’ welfare, and infrastructure development.

He emphasized the need for judicious use of funds, particularly loan resources, underscoring his government’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and prudent financial management.

Governor Idris expressed dissatisfaction with the current level of AGILE’s progress in Kebbi State, saying he was “not impressed.”

He raised concerns over certain operational lapses and assured that he would personally meet with the team in Abuja to address and resolve the issues openly.

He specifically condemned the secretive award of a ₦7.8 billion contract without the involvement of Kebbi-based companies, which led to the removal of some officials connected with the process.

The Governor insisted on transparency and fairness in contract awards, stressing that qualified local contractors should not be sidelined in favour of outsiders.

He also highlighted the need for corrective measures in project implementation to ensure a “collective action” for all stakeholders.

Citing stalled projects such as the one along the Gwandu axis, he called for renewed commitment and effective delivery to achieve the goals of the AGILE programme.

In his remarks, Mr. Shinsaku Nomura, Task Team Leader and Senior Economist for the AGILE project, expressed gratitude to the Kebbi State Government for the warm hospitality extended to the team.

“We are comfortable and have had a great time over the past two days in Kebbi State,” he said.

On behalf of the World Bank and the AGILE team, Mr. Nomura commended the state’s partnership and leadership on the project.

He explained that the delegation had visited several school construction sites, existing schools, and interacted with teachers, students, communities, and school-based management committees to assess ongoing efforts and discuss areas of improvement.

He appealed to the Governor to help expedite pending approval processes for payments, noting that delays have affected operations and preparations for the upcoming Implementation Support Mission in Abuja next week, which will involve all 18 participating states.