Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to deepening grassroots development and sustaining programmes that directly improve the lives of citizens.
The governor made this known while receiving the National Coordinator of the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) Programme, Dr. Abdulkareem Obaje, who paid him a courtesy visit in Dutse.
Dr. Obaje commended the state government for its strong support toward the implementation of NG-CARES since its formal take-off in 2021. He explained that the initiative was introduced in 2020 to help states cushion the economic impact of COVID-19 and boost rural economic activities.
“The NG-CARES programme has run for four years, and we have reimbursed states up to $696 million, reaching about 70 million Nigerians,” he said.
He noted that while the programme has moved beyond the emergency phase, efforts are now geared toward strengthening resilience among poor and vulnerable citizens.
He added that Jigawa remains one of the frontline states in the programme’s successful implementation.
“So far, Jigawa has drawn about $9.6 million under NG-CARES, and although the state has not reached the expected $30 million, there is high credibility and strong ownership demonstrated in project execution,” he stated.
The National Coordinator further disclosed that the next phase, NG-CARES 2.0, will soon commence once necessary loan agreements are finalised, tentatively by December 9.
Dr. Obaje praised Governor Namadi for his proactive leadership and responsiveness to community concerns, noting that his interventions have boosted programme performance in Jigawa.
Responding, Governor Namadi described NG-CARES as one of the most impactful interventions benefiting the poorest households in the state.
“NG-CARES is a programme that has truly touched the lives of our people,” he said.
The governor recalled his advocacy at the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and the World Bank for continuation of the programme, which led to the design of NG-CARES 2.0.
“We will continue to support this initiative because it strengthens livelihoods, promotes agriculture, and enhances social protection across our communities,” he assured.
The NG-CARES team is currently touring states to document outcomes, gather feedback, and highlight success stories ahead of the rollout of NG-CARES 2.0.
Usman Mohammed Zaria
