The federal government has disbursed N135.4 billion to states and the FCT after the second independent assessment of results achieved under the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES).

NG-CARES is a World Bank-assisted $750 million performance for results programme.

The national coordinator of the NG-CARES programme, Dr Abdulkarim Obaje, made this known in a statement by Suleiman Odapu, information and communication officer, NG-CARES, on Sunday in Abuja.

Mr Obaje said the funds were disbursed based on the results achieved by the States and FCT in their efforts at supporting poor and vulnerable Nigerians under the NG-CARES programme.

“The top three best-performing states in this Second Round of Assessment are Nasarawa which earned N13,697,828,496.96, Cross River, N10,944,747,818.84 and Zamfara, N10,231,055,267.82.

“This is a milestone achievement in the efforts of President Bola Tinubu’s administration at providing funds towards addressing multi-dimensional poverty in the country,” Mr Obaje noted.

He commended the minister for budget and economic planning, Sen. Atiku Bagudu, for providing the needed leadership at the federal level to coordinate the implementation of NG-CARES programme at the states and FCT.

The national coordinator also commended state governors, the FCT minister and the World Bank for providing support.

NG-CARES programme is an initiative of the federal government strategically designed to serve as a shock response mechanism and distribution channel for reaching the poor and vulnerable.

It is implemented through 158 integrated ministries, departments and agencies of all the 36 state governments and FCT Administration with well proven track record of performance under previous Donor Supported assistance.

The programme aims to expand access to livelihood support and food security services and grants for poor and vulnerable households and firms.

(NAN)