Nigerian COVID 19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus programme (NG-CARES) has commended Governor Peter Mbah, the Executive Governor of Enugu State for his support towards the success of the programme in Enugu State. The commendation was given by the Head, State Cares Coordinating Unit (SCCU), Mr Christian Nwankwo during the flag off ceremony of Inputs, Assets distribution and other support services to Ndi Enugu.He noted that NG-CARES programme is a collaborative effort of the federal and state governments to bring succour, hope and relief to the poor and vulnerable households who were adversely affected by Covid 19 pandemic.Mr Nwankwo noted that NG-CARES programme has 3 delivery platforms that are implementing across the country. “These platforms are Result Area 1 for Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA) and Result Area 2 (Fadama) and Result Area 3 for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME)”.Also seaking to the news men, State Project Coordinator, Fadama, Mr Geoffrey Eze said that his platform has distributed agricultural inputs and assets to 3, 340 farmers in Enugu.He added that the inputs were part of the Federal Government project under the Nigerian COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus programme aimed at increasing food security in the country.“2,040 farmers were given Power tillers while 1,300, farmers were given bundles of cassava stem, organic fertilizers and agro- chemicals,” he added.He stressed that cassava stem being distributed was an improved stem that would withstand harsh weather, diseases and high yielding variety that would lead to bumper harvest.Eze commended Gov. Peter Mbah for his support and vision in agricultural development , saying he had never witnessed such a gesture in Enugu state before.“His Excellency has done his beat and the beneficiaries had the responsibility to put them to use so that there will be food security in the state,” Eze said.Also, the General Manager, Enugu State Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA), Mrs Ugochukwu Ugwunnadi, said the agency was the implementation platform for NG CARES programmes such as community development projects.She said the community had to bring just the ten per cent of the total cost of the project to be executed in the community by the agency.On his part, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Digital Economy and SME Development DG, Hon. Chilo Offiah enumerated the many gains of the NG-CARES which aims to mitigate the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on local economies by protecting the livelihood of both existing and newly vulnerable households and supporting the recovery of local economic activities, particularly among micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
