The Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus, NG-Care Programme has expressed readiness to rally interventions for victims of floods across the country.
The National Coordinator of the programme, Abdulkarim Obaje, stated this on Thursday during the inauguration of the North-East Zone two-day Peer Learning and Experience Sharing Event in Bauchi.
While explaining that shocks are inevitable and have devastating impact on the livelihoods of the poor and vulnerable persons, Obaje noted that in recent times, different economic shocks have led to far-reaching consequences on the economy, basic services, small holder farmers and livelihood of the poor and vulnerable households and firms.
He stated that the Nigeria government has put in place structures to respond to shocks using both local and international human and institutional resources.
“The NG-CARES Programme is one of such responses supported by the World Bank.
“As part of its activities, during restructuring in 2023, the N-G CARES expanded its focus from COVID-19 to accommodate floods.
“If you remember, towards the end of 2019 there was massive flooding which has been repeated in many states across the country. Not only floods, the intention is as we are piloting support for other shocks, we also want to build shock response mechanisms.
“So that N-G CARES 160 delivery platforms in the country can be called upon at any time to address issues of floods, “Obaje added.
He said a large population of individuals displaced by flood in Borno state and across the country has benefited from N-G CARES social support.
Obaje who insisted that flooding coupled with other disasters topped their activities, explained that “N-G CARES has a total of over 9 million beneficiaries across the country.
“We have surpassed our results with 20 to 30 per cent. The world bank gave us $735 million but after the third assessment, we have already surpassed the $834 million results that we have produced.”
The coordinator stated that when the programme gets an additional $500 million “We should be able to produce results of to $1.5 billion dollars by the time we finish implementation in the next three to four years.”
He added that following request by the federal government, the world bank is preparing documentation of additional funding for the programme.
On his part, Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, while speaking at the event commended the Federal Government for having the foresight and wisdom of organising the N-G CARES.
He called on the participants to use the opportunity to be committed and dedicated in the course of the programme.
Represented by the state commissioner for Agriculture, Madugu Yalams, the governor said, “The importance and impact of the NG-CARES programme in the areas of providing accessibility to Food Security, Promotion of Small Businesses, ICT as well as the provision of basic services and infrastructure cannot be overemphasised.
“I appeal to the beneficiaries and the Communities where the micro-projects are provided to ensure their sustainability for their own use and for use by younger and future generations.”
