The Zamfara government says it has earmarked N7.2 billion for development projects under the NG-CARES project in 375 communities across the state. The programme is under the Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES), a World Bank-funded project.

Deputy Governor Mani Mummuni disclosed this in Gusau on Tuesday while flagging off free project implementation training for participants from 158 communities across the state.

Mr Mummuni said Governor Dauda Lawal had approved N7.2 billion for various community development projects through the State Community and Social Development Agency, which will oversee the programme.

The deputy governor said the approval would finance 375 community development projects across the state’s 14 council areas. He said the projects cover health, education, water supply, agriculture, and drainage, among others.

“They will be implemented by the Community Project Monitoring Committee under CSDA supervision,” he said.

Mr Mummuni reiterated the state government’s commitment to providing social amenities to vulnerable communities. He urged participants to ensure transparency and accountability in managing resources for project execution in their communities.

“This is part of Governor Lawal’s administration’s effort to extend the dividends of democracy to the people, especially at the grassroots level.

“I believe this training under CSDA will encourage community participation in project implementation. It will also promote transparency, accountability, and commitment to the development of your communities,” the deputy governor said.

CSDA’s general manager, Umar Nakwada, said that participants were drawn from CPMCs responsible for monitoring projects in their communities, and that the training was designed to sensitise them to project implementation.

Mr Nakwada said the training was designed to sensitise participants on project implementation.

“This training is for Batch A projects worth N3.2 billion, covering 158 communities. Part of our responsibility is to train participants on effective utilisation of resources allocated to the projects,” he said.

(NAN)