Bayelsa State Government says about Four Hundred and Sixty-Six thousand, Seven hundred and thirty-two (466,732) people have benefited directly from the community intervention programme, Bayelsa-CARES since its inception in January 2022.
Focal person of the programme, being Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus program, Mr. Timipre Seipulou, who made this known at a Press Conference in Yenagoa to share the success story of the programme, said the social transfers, agriculture and Micro, Small and Medium Entreprises components had impacted many lives within the period.
The NG-CARES/BY-CARES program which started in January, 2022 was the immediate response of the state, in collaboration with the federal government to manage the hardship caused by the 2019 global COVID pandemic.
“The BAYELSA-CARES as a project started in January 2022 with a total annual budget of US$20million with a duration of Two years.
According to him, the response was to impact the livelihoods of poor individuals, farmers, vulnerable households, communities and owners of micro and small enterprises.
“As at October 2024, about N16.8 billion has been released for the program, while the sum of N13.8 billion has been disbursed to the beneficiaries in the 8 selected areas to direct beneficiaries.
Over One million people have benefited indirectly in almost every community in Bayelsa State.
The program has provided an alternative source of monthly income, food to the average family, boost agriculture, support safe hygiene and improve infrastructures in our rural communities through local and indigenous contractors. We have built capacity and put money in the hands of our people,” Seipulou stated.
”Over 10,000 persons have benefited from the Social Transfer package of N10,000 monthly. This scheme targets the aged people from 55 years including those affected by flood and a few who are disabled. 3,289 unemployed youths across 165 communities have been paid the sum of N15,000 monthly from June 2022. Also, under the Livelihood Grants, 3,301 beneficiaries in 330 communities have benefited from the payment of N70,000 to N100,000.00 to help lift them above the poverty line.
As a special intervention, concrete roads have been constructed in urban, semi urban and rural communities to improve road infrastructure in the State. About N480 million Naira has been spent on the completion of 18 roads of different length from 150 metres to 250 metres in 18 different communities. Yes, we have supported thousands of farmers and provided operational grants to owners of small business owners. We have set up a system to monitor progress of this support scheme.
“His Excellency, Governor Douye Diri, is very passionate about our intervention in the rural communities. We must thank him for his interest to get our people out of poverty and so, he has approved the continuation of the programme”, Seipulou stated.
