Federal Government says it has released N438 billion to 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) under the Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) Programme.
Malam Suleiman Odapu, the Information and Communication Officer of the Federal CARES Support Unit (FCSU), disclosed this in a statement.
He said the disbursements were determined by the results achieved by the states and FCT during the third Independent Verification Agency (IVA) assessment conducted in January 2024.
The assessment showed that Zamfara, Nasarawa, and Plateau states received the lion’s shares of N49.18 billion, N27.20 billion, and N26.31 billion respectively.
Kaduna and Anambra States, however, did not present results for verification during this exercise.
Dr Abdulkarim Obaje, the National Coordinator of the NG-CARES Programme, expressed optimism that all the 36 states and the FCT would participate in the forthcoming fourth IVA assessment scheduled for September 2024.
The NG-CARES programme was established to alleviate the adverse socio-economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is to address other economic shocks by providing grants and essential social infrastructure services in impoverished communities.
The funds are allocated to various projects, including social safety nets, food security, and support for small businesses, ensuring that assistance reaches the most indigent and vulnerable Nigerians.
Initiated in 2021, the NG-CARES programme is scheduled to conclude in December 2024.
(vitalnewsngr.com)
