KEBBI TO SPEND N5 BN ON CARES PROGRAMMES.
FROM : AYODELE AJOGE, BIRNIN-KEBBI.
The Kebbi State Government is to injecct N5 billion to ensure success of the NG- CARES programme in the state. Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu has said.
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.
Bagudu added that the state government remained resolute and committed to livelihood support, SME support and maintaining food security.
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.
Governor Bagudu who was 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.
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.
In his remarks, Prof. Foluso Okunmadewa, who is 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, we are very happy with the governor, as he strives to take more people of the state out of poverty," Okunmadewa said.