Kogi launches NG-CARES for poverty alleviation

The Kogi State Government has launched the Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) programme in Lokoja Local Government Area to help alleviate poverty.

The programme was unveiled at the Lokoja Local Government Council Secretariat by the state Commissioner for Water Resources, Yahaya Farouk.

Mr Farouk described NG-CARES as a coordinated intervention designed by Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to support vulnerable people and households in Lokoja and reduce poverty.

He said the programme would provide cash transfers, livelihood grants, farm inputs and other agricultural support, as well as community and social development projects.

The commissioner said the intervention had been structured around polling units and would cover 273 polling units across the 10 wards of the local government area.

He said the arrangement was intended to ensure transparency and equitable distribution of the projects, with beneficiaries drawn from across the 273 polling units.

Mr Farouk said the involvement of political office holders and other key stakeholders from the 10 wards in the selection, implementation and monitoring process was important for accountability and sustainable delivery.

He appealed to party executives, political office holders and other stakeholders in Lokoja to work together to ensure the success of the programme.

One of the political leaders at the event, Alhaji Danladi Bababudon, thanked Governor Ododo for the initiative, saying it would support vulnerable households and communities in Lokoja and other local government areas across the state.