No fewer than 922 youths and women in Edo State have benefited from the first batch of the Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) grant.
Since its inception in 2021, NG-CARES has positively impacted the lives and livelihoods of over 15 million poor and vulnerable Nigerians. The program, formerly known as the COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programme, is a $750 million World Bank-assisted initiative aimed at providing livelihood support, food security services, and grants to mitigate economic shocks.
Dr. Emeka Vitalis Obi, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, revealed during a stakeholder meeting in Abuja that the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have invested $834.6 million in NG-CARES—30% more than the $645.74 million reimbursed to them by the World Bank. He emphasized that this overinvestment reflects a strong commitment by sub-national governments to institutionalize social protection initiatives.
The Federal Government recently extended the program, with World Bank approval, to conclude on May 31, 2025, allowing time to finalize the design of NG-CARES 2.0. Obi highlighted that the upcoming phase aims to create a robust shock-response system at the sub-national level to address poverty, marginalization, and economic inclusion for Nigeria’s most vulnerable populations.
Elizabeth Egharebva, Chairperson of the Federal Cares Technical Committee, praised the programme’s effectiveness, noting its role in mitigating economic challenges for poor Nigerians. She also expressed optimism about the second phase, which is expected to deliver more impactful and sustainable interventions in social protection, basic services, and food security.
