Governor Dr. Nasir Idris of Kebbi has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustaining the NG-CARES Programme through its domesticated version, KAURA CARES, to maintain Kebbi State’s position among the leading states in Nigeria.
The Governor made the pledge at the North-West Zonal Stakeholders’ Consultative Meeting held in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital.
He recalled that NG-CARES was conceived to cushion the socio-economic impact of COVID-19, noting that although the pandemic is now a memory, its effects linger in the lives of many Nigerians.
Dr Nasiru said NG-CARES has been a resounding success, ciiting the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and National Economic Council’s decision to secure additional World Bank financing for a renewed phase of the programme under the mantra of economic resilience.
He commended the Federal NG-CARES team, led by Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, alongside the Federal Technical Committee and National Coordinator, Dr. Abdulkarim Obaje, for successfully delivering Phase 1.
The Governor also lauded the North-West states, especially Kebbi and Zamfara, for ranking among the top performers in four rounds of independent verification.
Earlier, Dr. Abdulkarim Obaje, the National Coordinator of NG-CARES, described the program as a deliberate Federal Government initiative, supported by the World Bank, to cushion socio-economic shocks and drive grassroots economic recovery.
Also speaking, World Bank representative, Professor Sulaiman Yusuf, commended Governor Idris for Kebbi’s exceptional performance, noting that the state’s success influenced the choice of Kebbi as the venue for the meeting.
In his welcome address the Kebbi State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Abba Sani Kalgo, attributed Kebbi’s top ranking to Governor Idris’ “cast-iron support,” highlighting impactful interventions such as cash transfers, agricultural input distribution, wet market infrastructure, and community-led micro-projects.
The meeting brought together key stakeholders from the North-West states, Federal Government, World Bank, and partners to review Phase 1 of NG-CARES and chart the way forward for the next phase.
COV /SANI DUTSINMA
