By Justina Asishana, Minna

The Niger State government has budgeted N1.2 billion for the COVID-19 Action Recovery Economic Stimulus (NCARES) for the poor and vulnerable in the state.

The programme, which will cover the 25 local government areas of Niger State is targeted on the poor within the agriculture value chain, the physically challenged persons, the poor and vulnerable persons with minimal size of farm enterprise and those who have been affected by other crises apart from the pandemic.

The Niger State FADAMA Coordinator, Dr Hassan Garba Kontagora who disclosed this to The Nation in Minna, the state capital said the NCARES support is free and meant to bring farmers and others from the impact of the pandemic.

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He said the NCARES is funded by the Federal Government, World Bank and state government, adding that the total amount to be expended has not been ascertained yet but the state government has already voted N1.2 billion for the programme.

According to him, FADAMA is currently compiling the data of the poor and vulnerable in the 25 local government areas of the state who will be beneficiaries of the project.” Women and youths are highly targeted as they fall into the category of the poor and vulnerable in the society because of lack of or limited access to finance and other resources.”