Kebbi disburses N6.5bn to 65,000 people under ‘Kaura Cares

Kebbi disburses N6.5bn to 65,000 people under ‘Kaura Cares

The Kebbi Government has disbursed N6.5 billion to 65, 000 people under ‘Kaura Cares’ of Livelihood Support Programme in the state.

Gov. Nasir Idris, flagged off the disbursement exercise by operating Point of Sale (POS) to the targeted beneficiaries in Birnin Kebbi on Monday.

“The livelihood support programme is very important and dare to us because it provides privilege to beneficiaries and improve their living condition.

“This scheme is in fulfilment of my campaign promises to the people of Kebbi, and I have multiplied the number of beneficiaries by four times of the initial figure.

“My administration will continue to implement similar programmes, either under the World Bank, the Federal Government or the State Government that will serve as beneficial to thousands of our people, in consonance with what I have always emphasised that my administration is a government of the people.

“I have watched clips of video of those who had earlier benefited from the programme, from what I have seen, there is a particular recipient who has been going from one place to another in search of medical care,” he said.

In a swift reaction to the video, the governor directed the Ministry of Health to identify the person for medical treatment in Nigeria or abroad, assuring that the state would shoulder the responsibility.

Idris reiterated his commitment to improving the welfare and prosperity of the people of the state, saying that the programme had detached the people from poverty in the state.

“My government is determined to fight poverty under whatever dimension and provide the much needed basic social services to all communities.

“I urge the beneficiaries to make good use of the support funds received, use it for yourselves and as an investment for generation to come,” the governor urged.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr Abba Sani-Kalgo, announced that the governor approved N6.5 billion for disbursement to 65,000 beneficiaries across the state.

“Each of the beneficiaries will receive N100,000 which is unprecedented in the history of the nation, only surpassed by the Federal Government,” he said.

Sani-Kalgo said the Kaura Cares had continued to meet its target objectives of intervention, to support farming communities, increase yields and serve with effectiveness in poverty eradication.

“The livelihood cash grant today is in fulfilment of the promise by the governor to provide such funds to 15,000 people but in his wisdom, the governor has quadrupled the number to 65,000 beneficiaries,” he said.

Sani-Kalgo said that the beneficiaries were chosen by their various communities without interference by the governor or his subordinates.

The commissioner thanked the governor for his fatherly care to the people of the state and his strive to improve their standard of living.

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Earlier, the state Programme Coordinator, NG-Cares, Dr Rukayya Muhammad-Bawa, said that the NG-CARES programme is a beacon of hope, designed to uplift the most vulnerable citizens and enhance livelihood across the state.

“Under the livelihood intervention 1.1, from inception, we have enrolled 1,950 beneficiaries that have received N10,000 monthly for the period of two years, these beneficiaries were mined from the state social register that were either aged, chronically ill, persons with special needs or urban poor.

“Just recently, Gov. Nasir Idris has given the approval to enrol another 5,850 beneficiaries who will also be receiving N10,000 monthly for the period of one year,” she said.

Muhammad-Bawa added that for the direct livelihood intervention 1.3, of the programme, a sum of N200 million was disbursed to 1,050 beneficiaries under the livelihood grants scheme in the first phase.

“Cumulatively, from inception to date, the state has disbursed over N8.5 billion to over 85,000 beneficiaries ranging from N100,000 to N200,000.

“These funds are aimed at empowering individuals to establish and expand income-generating activities, thereby creating sustainable livelihoods for themselves and their families.

“In the education sector, 62 micro projects were completed; in the health sector, 42 micro projects were completed; on water and sanitation sector, 82 micro projects were completed and five micro projects were completed in the flood and erosion sector.

“Under agriculture, over N2.4 billion worth of fertilisers and agricultural inputs have been disbursed to over 6,000 beneficiaries across the 21 local councils in the third phase, among others,” the coordinator said.