NG-Cares Programme Pledges Support for Flood Victims Amidst Expanding Scope

The Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-Cares) Programme has affirmed its commitment to mobilizing aid for flood victims across the nation. This announcement was made by the National Coordinator of NG-Cares, Abdulkarim Obaje, during the inauguration of a two-day Peer Learning and Experience Sharing Event for the North-East Zone in Bauchi.

Obaje addressed the impact of economic shocks on vulnerable populations, highlighting how recent floods and other disasters have severely affected the livelihoods of poor and vulnerable individuals, as well as smallholder farmers. He emphasized that the Nigerian government has established mechanisms to address such shocks through a combination of local and international resources.

The NG-Cares Programme, supported by the World Bank, has expanded its focus beyond COVID-19 to include flood response following restructuring in 2023. Obaje noted that the initiative aims to build effective response mechanisms to handle various shocks, including floods, through its 160 delivery platforms across the country.

He reported that many individuals displaced by flooding in Borno State and other regions have benefited from NG-Cares’ social support services. The programme has achieved substantial results, surpassing its targets by 20 to 30 percent. With an initial World Bank funding of $735 million, NG-Cares has already exceeded $834 million in results and is projected to reach $1.5 billion with an additional $500 million in funding.

Obaje also mentioned that the World Bank is preparing additional documentation for further funding based on requests from the federal government.

In his remarks, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, represented by the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Madugu Yalams, praised the federal government for initiating NG-Cares. He encouraged participants to remain committed to the programme’s objectives and underscored the importance of NG-Cares in enhancing food security, promoting small businesses, advancing ICT, and improving basic services and infrastructure. The governor urged beneficiaries and communities to ensure the sustainability of the micro-projects for current and future generations.

Written by: Blossom Kugbere

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