The Nigeria COVID-19 Action, Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) says it has disbursed N625 billion to the 36 states since the programme’s inception.

The national coordinator of NG-CARES, Abdulkarim Obaje, stated this during the peer learning and experience-sharing exercise on Thursday in Bauchi.

The federal government is implementing NG-CARES in collaboration with the World Bank and the 36 state governments to mitigate the negative social and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It also aimed at addressing other shocks through the provision of grants and basic social infrastructure services to poor and vulnerable communities.

Mr Obaje described NG-CARES as one of the most successful World Bank interventions, assisting more than 5.3 million poor and vulnerable Nigerians.

He said the programme had been restructured to accommodate flood victims and related shocks.

Elizabeth Egharebwa, the Federal CARES Technical Committee chairman, said the programme had been working with communities and agencies to alleviate the burdens of the poor and vulnerable Nigerians in the last three years.

Adamu Gizos, the director of special duties and projects at the Federal Ministry of Labour, represented her.

Ms Egharebwa, the director of economic growth at the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, said, ”While we are proud of what we have accomplished thus far, we know there is still much work to be done.

”That is why this peer learning event is so critical. By convening diverse perspectives and experiences, we can collectively identify solutions to the complex challenges we face.”

Also speaking, AbdulAzeez Olorunshola, the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) representative, said the exercise was designed to encourage sustainable collaboration between the states.

Mr Olorunshola said this would ensure a better understanding for effective peer learning methods among the states.

Governor Bala Mohammed lauded the NG-CARES for food security, small businesses, and social intervention programmes.

Represented by Simon Yalams, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Mohammed said the intervention encouraged the application of information communications technology (ICT) in providing infrastructure and basic services to the people.

He urged the people to protect and ensure effective utilisation of the facilities provided in their communities for sustainable social and economic development in the country.

(NAN)