Niger State Government has reiterated its commitment to the ideals of the Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) Programme.
The State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, stated this during the Zonal Peer Learning and experience-sharing event, organized by NG-CARES, to deliberate on the best ways to address challenges, held at the Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre, Minna, on Monday.
Represented by his Deputy, Comrade Yakubu Garba, the Governor disclosed that the State Government has reinvested the earnings from the last Independent Verification Agents (IVA) on social security in the current cycle, adding that the NG-CARES Project is in line with the New Niger Agenda of the present administration in the State.
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He further stated that as leaders and stakeholders, it is imperative to learn from experiences, share knowledge, and formulate resilient strategies that will address the immediate needs of the people with a view to laying a foundation for a robust economic recovery.
Governor Umaru Bago thereby urged the organizers to ensure an action-oriented framework that promotes resilience and sustainability, as well as to identify more areas of intervention.
In his separate remarks, the National Coordinator of NG-CARES, Dr. Abdulkarim Obaje, noted that $750 million was allocated for the NG-CARES Programme between 2021 and 2024 across the country, with $645 million expended so far under the programme for results, which includes social safety nets, livelihood grants, and basic services support.
He said the NG-CARES Programme, which is aimed at improving the lives of the poor and vulnerable, has been adjudged to be one of the best World Bank-assisted programmes in the country, with over 9 million Nigerians benefitting directly.
However, Dr. Obaje commended the efforts of the Niger State Government as the state ranks top in earnings in North Central while also disclosing that approval has been given for the programme to be extended to upscale the number of beneficiaries.
The Chairman, Federal CARES Technical Committee, Mrs. Elizabeth Egharevba, in her message delivered by the National Coordinator of NG-CARES, emphasized that the programme has been helpful in reaching out to vulnerable people and that the coming together of stakeholders to deliberate on ways to address challenges in the scheme will help in achieving the desired results.
Furthermore, in their separate remarks, the Niger State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon. Binta Mamman, her counterparts in the Ministry of Finance, Alhaji Lawal Maikano, and the Ministry of Lands, Barr. Maurice Magaji, commended NG-CARES for their support to beneficiaries, particularly women, who are among the most vulnerable people in society.
The event also featured the presentation of symbolic cheques to some beneficiaries under the livelihood support, Result Area One project.
Meanwhile, eight states, comprising Niger, Benue, Gombe, Kaduna, Kogi, Plateau, Rivers, and the FCT Abuja, participated in the two-day event.
