The Kogi State Commissioner for Water Resources, Engineer Yahaya M.D. Farouk, on Friday, unveiled the NG-CARES intervention programme for Lokoja Local Government Area which is intended to benefit thousands of residents across the area.
The Commissioner, on behalf of the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, noted that the importance of the intervention programme cannot be over emphasized and stressed the need for stakeholders to be properly informed about the programme and its implementation strategies.
Speaking on the intervention, Engr. Yahaya M.D. Farouk highlighted various components of the programme, including cash transfers, livelihood grants, Labour Intensive Public Works (LIPW), community projects, and Agricultural inputs and assets.
He disclosed that the intervention in Lokoja Local Government Area has an overall target of over seven thousand beneficiaries, comprising people who will receive direct support and those expected to benefit from community-based projects and other socio-economic interventions.
The Commissioner emphasised the importance of transparency and equitable distribution in the implementation process, explaining that the selection and allocation process had been structured to ensure that the intervention reaches the intended beneficiaries across different wards and polling units.
He noted that attention would be given to communities that had not previously benefited from similar projects, saying stakeholders are expected to play a role in identifying eligible communities and beneficiaries, which should majorly be less privileged persons.
Engineer Farouk warned that the program was not for family and friends, but meant for the vulnerable people in the society, promising that he would monitor the program strictly to avoid sharp practices in order to realise the lofty objectives of the Chief servant, His Excellency, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo.
“At this point, let me advice and warn that you are not expected to select your family members and friends, it should get to everyone irrespective of religion, party and other considerations, the good intentions of the Governor must not be tampered with. Less privileged persons should be the target, bearing in mind that the entire programme is meant to reduce poverty across Kogi State”, the Commissioner emphasized.
He particularly directed the Ward Councillors and
Ward Chairmen and women leaders as well as other senior political office holders to handle the selection process in partnership with other key stakeholders in order to ensure high level of transparency in the allocation process through the template already laid.
“On behalf of His Excellency, the people’s Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, I hereby unveil the NG- CARES in Lokoja local government area for the good of the people”, he remarked.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Community and Social Development Projects, Alhaji Muhammed Nuhu Tanimu thanked the Commissioner for his efforts and the equitable distribution of the projects across the wards, adding that with the projects, the workload in his office had been reduced.
Other speakers at the event commended the Commissioner for his transparency and accountability while in office, and promised to support him in order to succeed.
The engagement marks another step towards implementing the NG-CARES intervention in Lokoja Local Government, with stakeholders expected to support the identification and documentation of beneficiaries as the programme progresses.
Lokoja Local Government has ten wards and 273 polling units, making it the fourth largest in Kogi State.
Highlight of the event was the presentation of the forms and other documents to the ward leaders by the Honourable Commissioner, Engineer Yahaya M.D. Farouk.
