Gombe begins implementation of N8.5bn intervention funds

The Gombe State Government has begun implementation of the N8.5 billion Gombe – COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (Gombe-CARES) targeting 288,700 households in the state.

The programme is in collaboration between the state government and the World Bank.

NG-CARES aims to support the government in responding to the COVID‐19 crisis by restoring the livelihoods and food security of poor and vulnerable households as well as promoting the recovery of MSEs.

Gov. Inuwa Yahaya stated this at the inauguration of the programme at Kuri village in Yamaltu-Deba Local Government Area of the state.

He said that N3.4 billion would be utilised to provide grants and basic services to poor and vulnerable households while N3.4 billion has been set aside to provide inputs to increase food production, enhance farmer support services and performance of the food supply value chain.

The governor said N1.7 billion grants would be disbursed to MSMEs to enhance their operation and help them recover from the huge losses incurred during the pandemic.

“The effect of COVID-19 on the economy and livelihood of the people cannot be over-emphasised.

“We saw global economies enter recessions, livelihoods disrupted and millions of jobs lost in an unprecedented manner with recovery just beginning.

“This makes the CARES programme not only timely but essential, the challenges of COVID-19 and the global economic meltdown have certainly made us be more strategic and focused in our development drive,” he said.

According to him, the CARES intervention aligns with our human capital development initiative encapsulated in the 10-year Development Agenda for Gombe State (DEVAGOM).

The initiative, he said would support the state government’s programme of expenditures and interventions designed to expand access to livelihood support and food security.

“Also provide succour to the poor and vulnerable persons in our communities whose lives, businesses, jobs and means of livelihood have been distorted by the pandemic,” he said.

The governor commended the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) for supporting the Federal Government to ensure that the programme was approved by the World Bank.

He also lauded the World Bank for the intervention and for working with the government towards cushioning the social and economic impacts of the pandemic on the people.

The Chairman, Gombe – CARES Steering Committee in the state, Alhaji Mohammed Magaji said the two-year intervention would be implemented across the 17 local government areas of the state.

Magaji, who is also the state Commissioner for Finance, said the programme was solely funded by the state government.

He said the poor, aged, vulnerable and farmers were targeted to benefit from the programme.