Kebbi govt to spend N5bn on NG- CARES programme – Gov. Bagudu
The Kebbi State Government says it will inject additional resources of up to N5 billion to ensure success of the NG- CARES programme in the state.
Gov. Atiku Bagudu, made this known at a two-day state Covid-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus programme in collaboration with the state Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning in Birnin Kebbi on Wednesday.
NG-CARES is a state operation with support from the World Bank to the tune of 750 million U.S. dollars credit to support the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The programme also aims at mitigating the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the livelihoods of poor and vulnerable households and micro-enterprises in the country.
He said,” The state government is committed to inject additional resources of up to N5 billion to ensure the success of the CARES programme.
“By design, the CARES programme is expected to run over a period of two years, and we have a target of 28,291 across the nine Disbursement Link Indicators (DLIs).”
Bagudu added that the state government remained resolute and committed to livelihood support, SME support and maintaining food security.
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“Not surprisingly, the bulk of our CARES interventions will go towards the Agricultural Intervention component to bolster food security and provide much needed help to small holder farmers.
“Being conscious of the time sensitive nature of agricultural interventions and the need for urgent intervention across all result areas.
” We have committed to provide the additional state resources as soon as they are requested by the delivery platform,” he said.
Bagudu, represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Babale Umar-Yauri, thanked the World Bank and Federal teams for taking time to grace the occasion.
“I would like to commend the CARES team from Kebbi for also working very hard to bring us to the point where the CARES programme is being launched.
Earlier, the state Commissioner of Budget and Economic Planning, who is also the Chairman, Kebbi CARES, Steering Committee, Dr Abba Sani-Kalgo, said the government and CARES partners had worked hard to design and put in place a program for results that allows the states to bring succour and relief to its people and businesses through the three intervention areas.
“Bagudu’s administration has worked hard and provided all the requirements needed to ensure that the CARES Program has a smooth take off.
” Indeed, it would be a great disservice for me to leave this podium without acknowledging the efforts of Gov. Bagudu in providing all the support required for kebbi to meet the eligibility criteria for participation in the CARES program.
“Indeed, there is nothing that the Kebbi CARES team requested that it did not get.
“We are here launching this program because of the unwavering support of the Kebbi State government to ensure that the neediest of society get the relevant and timely support they need to cushion the effects of the COVID Pandemic,” he said.
Sani-Kalgo also commended the World bank Task Team leader Prof. Foluso Okunmadewa and Mr Aso Vakporaye, the chair of the Federal Cares Technical Team for their efforts in ensuring the success of the programme in the state.
Also speaking, the state Coordinator of the Program, Hajiya Rukayya Muhammad-Bawa, said that the program in the state would focused on nine lead indicators and three result areas such as the social transfer, basic services and livelihood support for the poor and vulnerable households.
“The program is part of efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to lift out 100 million Nigerians out of poverty,” she said.
In his remarks, Prof. Foluso Okunmadewa, the Task Team Leader of the programme, commended the state for taking a lead position in the country.
‘’This is why we want other states to emulate Kebbi, and its governor must be lauded.
‘’This is why we are very happy with the governor, as he strives to take more people of the state out of poverty,” Okunmadewa said.
