Governor Ahmad Aliyu of Sokoto State has approved ₦14 billion to assist vulnerable individuals under the ‘Nigeria-Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus’ (NG-CARES) program.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to the initiative, Governor Aliyu underscored the critical role NG-CARES plays in supporting the state’s impoverished and vulnerable communities.
The governor made this known during the opening of a three-day NG-CARES Zonal Peer Learning Experience Sharing event, which brought together stakeholders from Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara states. The forum, held in Sokoto, aimed to share insights and best practices on the program’s implementation.
Speaking through the State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Balarabe Kadadi, Governor Aliyu revealed that the approved funds had already been distributed across three relevant Disbursement Link Indicators (DLIs).
“Upon assuming office, we prioritized the NG-CARES program, recognizing its immense value. We quickly allocated ₦3 billion for micro-community projects, livelihood support, agricultural inputs, and grants to SMEs. This was followed by an additional ₦9 billion to address the three key result areas,” the governor explained.
He further announced that the government had earmarked funds for 1,950 beneficiaries under the social cash transfer augmentation scheme and set aside ₦500 million to enroll over 3,000 new beneficiaries.
Additionally, Governor Aliyu highlighted that 3,041 youths and women in the state had benefited from livestock and agricultural processing machines provided through the program.
Emphasizing the importance of sustaining NG-CARES, he stated, “This program is a vital tool in addressing poverty and economic challenges in Sokoto. Its impact, which has reached over 90 million Nigerians, is undeniable.”
Elizabeth Egharebwa, chairperson of the NG-CARES Federal CARES Technical Committee (FCTC), described the event as a significant milestone for the program. Represented by Peter Kush, director of the project coordination unit at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Ms. Egharebwa stressed the need to maintain the momentum built by NG-CARES.
“While we celebrate our achievements, there is still much work ahead,” she concluded.
