By Yunusa Isa, Gombe
The World Bank has scored Gombe State high in the execution of the Nigeria COVID-19 Action, Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) Program.
The commendation was made by the World Bank Representative in Nigeria Dr Fanen Ade during a courtesy visit on the state governor at the Government House.
“NG-CARES was designed as a recovery intervention to support and protect the vulnerable from the socioeconomic shocks brought forward by COVID-19 Pandemic. Gombe has did extremely well in excuting this program, Gombe has surpassed expectations.”
He said the money injected by the World Bank in collaboration with the Federal Government to the state has positively impacted on the state’s economy.
“The 40 billion Naira that came to the state means a lot to Gombe economy. Poverty and climate change are priority factors we hope to address and strengthen the people to withstand the shocks of the pandemic and become more resilient”.
He said as the NG-CARES 1.0 is rolling out by December 2025, reimbursement into phase 2.0 is in the pipeline considering the state’s performance and achievements.
He said the team was equally in Gombe to hear from the beneficiaries and to assess how best they enjoy the program as well as suggest ways forward for better future interventions.
He said Gombe is selected for the zonal meeting considering its strategic location and peaceful nature in the northeast.
“The choice of Gombe is not by mistake, Gombe is so dear and important to World Bank as it’s so peaceful and centre of the Northeast sub region”.
The Chairman Federal Government’s Steering Committee on the NG-CARES Program Alhaji Auwal Muhammad who led the team to Gombe Government House, said they were in the state for a zonal meeting on the program to assess the states’ performance in its execution.
While noting that NG-CARES is a performance for result program, the chairman said the program alleviates suffering of the downtrodden.
“Tinubu administration is placing so much emphasis on the program to support the less privileged especially those whose livelihoods were stunted by COVID-19 Pandemic.”
In his response, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya represented by the Secretary to the State Government Professor Ibrahim Abubakar Njoɗi, appreciated the team for choosing Gombe as host for the zonal meeting.
He said Gombe has nothing to hide on the program, as it has judiciously spent every Kobo it was entrusted with.
“Invite any beneficiary you feel like to interact with, we don’t have anything to hide, Inuwa administration is all about transparency, accountability and openness. Let me assure you that we have spent these 40 billion Naira judiciously and we are ever ready to welcome the 2.0 version of the program.
Professor Njoɗi said more than 640 thousand people have benefited from the program in Gombe State, noting that the state expects nothing less than 100 billion Naira in the phase 2 of the intervention program for more dividends.
“NG-CARES has significantly supported us when virtually everything was in shambles when we assumed office in 2019, especially in sectors of security, education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure, water supply and information technology amongst others”.
“NG-CARES came at the right time, we would have lost out without your intervention. Over 640 people benefited from this program in Gombe State right from petty traders for start-ups; and grants awarded to over 337 communities for the execution of mini projects, grants to farmers groups where poor and vulnerable farmers were supported with fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides, seeds, livestock among others” He added.
“NG-CARES has also came to our aid in infrastructure revitalization in rural areas and economic recovery interventions where grinding machines, water pumping machines etc were provided to vulnerable households to strengthen their livelihoods”.
The SSG added that the state has equally benefited from the program’s markets revival initiative, reconstruction of slaughter slabs, and ICT intervention to small and micro businesses where laptops, iPads and smart phones were provided to support start-ups.