World Bank To Release $500m For NG-CARES Prog Phase II

The leader of Task Team NG-CARES World Bank Programme, Dr. Lire Er­sado has disclosed that the World Bank is set to release $500million for the implemen­tation of the Phase II of the NG-CARES Programme.

Ersado also disclosed that state governments would collectively add almost the same amount to complement the World Bank ef­forts.

Represented by Prof. Foluso Okunmadewa, Ersado described the Phase I of the programme as a huge success.

He said: “This NG-CARES Pro­gramme has helped a lot of farm­ers to increase their production, it has helped a lot of businesses that were affected to recover their busi­nesses. So, this has been impactful on the lives of the people.

“For the second phase, the World Bank is going to give $500million, but the states collec­tively are going to put almost the same amount of resources to complement this and the states are using very objective measures to identify the beneficiaries.

“Besides, it has been very dif­ficult for the politicians to hijack the programme. We have learnt so many things to avoid any leakages or wastage of the programme in the country.”

In his address, the National Coordinator of the NG-CARES Programme, Dr. Abdulkarim Oba­je disclosed in Akure, Ondo State capital, during the Federal Cares Support Unit (FCSU), Nigeria Com­munity Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) Programme, Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Peer Learning and Experience Sharing event, that the Phase I of the programme gulped $750million.

The event, which was held at the International Centre for Cul­ture and Events (The Dome), was attended by many stakeholders.

According to Dr. Obaje, it was revealed that an additional $500million has been proposed for the Phase II of the programme, NG-CARES 2.0 which would com­mence before long.

He said: “The Phase I of the programme cost $750million and it has changed the consumption pattern for a lot of households. No fewer than nine million poor and vulnerable Nigerians have bene­fited directly from the NG-CARES Programme.

“To ensure sustainability of the programme results, we demand continued support from stakehold­ers. States are putting a lot of their own resources in the programme.

“NG-CARES is evolving into a dynamic shock response system with over 160 supporting agencies and over 3000 staff well trained across the 36 states and FCT.

“Sustainability of NG-CARES Programme structure in the states and FCT can be enhanced through continuous funding having demonstrated capacity to be part of the state government shock re­sponse mechanism in the country.

“States have flexibility to add-on other DLIs depending on the peculiarity of each state. Continuous advocacy, sensiti­sation and technical support to the state government officials will encourage fund release for implementation and improved service delivery.”