FG Allocates N438Bn to 34 States, FCT Through NG-CARES

The Federal Government has released over N438 billion to 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under the Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) programme.

This announcement was made by Suleiman Odapu, Information and Communication Officer of the Federal CARES Support Unit, in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja.

According to Odapu, the National Coordinator of the NG-CARES Programme, Dr. Abdulkarim Obaje, confirmed that the funds were disbursed based on the results achieved by the states and FCT during the third Independent Verification Agency (IVA) assessment conducted in January 2024.

From the assessment, Zamfara, Nasarawa, and Plateau states emerged as the top three earners with N49 billion, N27 billion, and N26 billion, respectively. However, Kaduna and Anambra States did not present results for verification during this exercise.

Dr. Obaje expressed optimism that all 36 states and the FCT would participate in the fourth IVA exercise scheduled for September 2024.

He noted that the substantial reimbursement is aimed at helping state governments and the FCT tackle the pressing challenges of multidimensional poverty and improve the livelihoods and resilience of the poor and vulnerable populations.

The funds are targeted at social intervention programmes across the states and FCT.

Obaje expressed confidence that these resources would significantly enhance the lives of many poor and underserved Nigerians. He thanked the Federal Government, especially the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, for the initiative and leadership that has enabled state governors and the Minister of FCT to invest heavily in NG-CARES.

Dr. Obaje also commended the FCT Minister, Mr. Nyesom Wike, the state governors, and the staff of NG-CARES nationwide for their contributions to the programme’s success.

The NG-CARES programme, launched in 2021, aims to mitigate the socio-economic shocks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and other challenges by providing grants and basic social infrastructure services in poor communities.

The funds support various projects, including social safety nets, food security, and small business support, ensuring that assistance reaches the most indigent and vulnerable Nigerians.

The programme is scheduled to conclude in December 2024.