From Austine Tule , MakurdiCommissioner for Finance in Benue, Dr David Olofu, said the Nigeria Covid-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) will soon cushion the effect of Covid-19 on the poor and vulnerable in the State.
Olofu disclosed this in Makurdi during the sensitization meeting organised by the implementing partners of the programme namely FADAMA, State Cash Transfer Unit, Community and Social Development Programme (CSDP) among others.
The commissioner said that the programme would kick-start in June 2021 to terminate in December 2023, adding that it would cover all the 23 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the State.
“NG-CARES is a programme for result, supported by the World Bank with specific objective of cushioning the impact of covid-19 pandemic on the livelihoods of the poor and vulnerable households.
“To also cushion the effect on covid-19 on micro enterprises in the country by expanding access to livelihood support, food security services and grants for poor and most vulnerable households and firms.
“To achieve these results, the programme is expected to strengthen existing structures and create opportunities for complementarity and synergy among the implementing entities from the State to the local government levels,” he said.
Meanwhile, the General Manager, CSDP, Engr James Aboho, disclosed that the programme was targeting existing and newly emerging vulnerable and poor households.
“It is also targeting agricultural value chains and Micro and Small Enterprises (MSEs) affected by the economic crisis.
“It is designed to restore the livelihoods of the poor and vulnerable, maintaining food security and facilitating recovery of MSEs,” he said.
The Head, State Cash Transfer Unit, Mr Emmanuel Waghbo said that the programme was targeting only the poor and vulnerable people.
Also, th State Project Coordinator, FADAMA, Mr Kelvin Tarnongu, said that they were not going to share money to the beneficiaries rather they would give them critical inputs to enable them embark on any agricultural activity of their choice.
“40 per cent of the beneficiaries will be women in either rice, cassava or tomato processing,” he said.
