National coordinator of Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES), Dr Abdulkarim Obaje has said that the initiative now focuses on supporting and rebuilding communities and individuals who experienced flood disasters across the country.
Dr Obaje disclosed that the increase in the waves of environmental hazards across the nation, particularly in the form of flooding, compelled NG-CARES authorities to shift focus from post COVID-19 intervention to pre and post-flood intervention to support the livelihoods of victims and communities.
He stated this in Bauchi at the Northeast Peer Learning and Experience Sharing meeting.
He said, considering the successes recorded through the implementation of the NG-CARES which supported the economic resurgence of communities, families and individuals in the aftermath of COVID-19, it became necessary to shift focus to supporting victims of flooding and other natural disasters.
The coordinator decried that waves of floods recorded in the country this year, particularly the Borno incident, caused destruction to public and private property and infrastructure, hence the need for a special intervention package to support victims.
Dr Obaje noted that since 2023, NG-CARES has been supporting victims of floods and other environmental shocks in Nigeria.
He said from 2021 to 2024, the NG-CARES with support from the World Bank, has spent about $750 million where over nine million people benefitted from the scheme across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT.
He commended the support of the federal government and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum for the timely release of counterpart funding.
The Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed who was represented by the commissioner for Agriculture, Professor Madugu Yalams, assured of the commitment of his administration to supporting activities of NG-CARES in the state.
The governor promised that funds disbursed to the state through the programme would be judiciously used in the area of agriculture, livelihood support and conditional cash transfer for the benefit of the citizens.
