At least 14 communities in the Federal Capital Territory have begun accessing the N1.1billion Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programme, NG-CARES.
The fund is a World Bank initiative designed to cushion the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on residents of the FCT and other participating states.
The FCT Administration, through its Community and Social Development Agency on Thursday, presented cheques to the first batch of benefitting communities across the six Area councils to the tune of N146,453,103 only.
FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, while presenting the cheques, said the program is leveraging the existing World Bank operations anchored on community-based approaches and structures.
Bello, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Malam Bashir Mai-Bornu, revealed that the FCT-CSDA formulated 14 Community Development Plans, CDP, for implementation of projects, comprising the rehabilitation of primary health care centers, drilling, rehabilitation and upgrading of boreholes and construction and rehabilitation of classrooms across the 6 Area Councils.
He noted that following the advance of N1.1 billion NG-CARES funds by the World Bank to FCT, the Administration has commenced subsequent disbursement to its various delivery platforms, namely FCT FADAMA, Abuja Enterprise Agency, FCT Cash Transfer programme and the FCT-CSDA.
According to him, the objective of the program is to protect livelihoods and food security for poor and vulnerable families negatively impacted by the pandemic and facilitate the recovery of local economic activities.
He expressed the administration’s commitment to continue to partner with various development partners with a view of improving the well-being of residents of the territory.
“It is therefore imperative that the direct beneficiaries not only utilize them effectively but also ensure their functionality by owning and protecting them.
“I therefore call on traditional and community leaders to instill in the people a sense of ownership of the projects so as to achieve the aims for which they were conceived,” he stressed.
Earlier, the Secretary, EPRG and PPP, Secretariat, Hon. Lukman Dabiri, explained that the selection of the structural projects, followed series of meetings with benefiting communities and authorities of the Area Councils, where they agreed on what they wanted.
On his part, the Etsu of Kwali, HRH Alhaji Audu Nizazo III, who represented the Ona of Abaji, described the implementation of the initiative a welcome development, as it will bring succour to the people especially rural dwellers.