COVID-19: Nasarawa State Begins Implementation Of N8.3 Billion NG-CARES Programme

The Nasarawa State Government has begun the implementation of about N8.3 billion Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) programme for poor people

Umar Dahiru, the Nassarawa State Coordinator of NG-CARES said on Friday in Lafia that the programme, developed by a tripartite agreement by the World Bank, Federal Government and state governments, is state-focused.

According to him, the programme aims at combating the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, specifically for the poor and the less privileged in society.

He said the government has already released N1.1 billion out of the N8.3 billion for the implementation of the programme in the state.

He added that about 120,000 poor people would benefit directly from the programme through stipends, provision of farm inputs, among others, across the 13 local government areas of the state.

"We are starting with 43,000 persons in the next six months and in the next two years, all the 120,000 persons will benefit.

“Apart from the direct beneficiaries, we are hopeful that over one million persons will also benefit indirectly.”

The coordinator explained that in the next two years, 17 rural roads would be constructed.

"Other areas of the intervention by NG-CARES programme include social transfer support to the livelihood of poor and vulnerable who are chronically ill, aged and living with disability.

“Others are public workers for poor and vulnerable youths and women from communities, micro-projects to poor communities with basic infrastructure in education, health, nutrition, water and sanitation.

 “The provision of farm inputs and services such as seed, fertiliser and herbicides, rehabilitation of rural roads and provision of access to poor and rural farming communities from farms to markets will also draw from the fund.”