From Olanrewaju Lawal Birnin Kebbi
The Kebbi State Government has disclosed that not less than 613 firms received operational support grants from the state government.
Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning,Alhaji Abba Sani Kalgo stated this while briefing newsmen about the activities of his Ministry under the administration of Dr. Nasir Idris,the State Governor.
Kalgo, said,” the Kebbi State Ministry of Budget also facilitates the coordination of World Bank supported programmes in the State. Chief amongst this is the coordination of the NG-CARES Programme for Results tagged (KAURA CARES) under 4 major platforms.
“This money was further released to continue the programme implementation during which beneficiaries were given access to livelihood support, food security interventions, grants for poor and vulnerable households as well as grants for Small and Medium Enterprises.
“In terms of figures, 1,950 beneficiaries benefitted from the state social transfer comprising of 1,077 males and 873 female. In excess of 27,000 beneficiary farmers received agricultural assets agricultural inputs and fisheries support.
“Numerous beneficiaries benefited from the livelihood support grants from the (CSDA) just as 613 firms received operational support grants of which 453 were male led firms and 160 were female led.
“In terms of infrastructural development under the CARES program, 23 feeder roads were constructed with a total length of 79.2km just as 29 wet markets were also constructed. Micro projects comprising 29 Community clinics and 24 water and sanitation projects were all undertaken under the programme.
” The Kaura CARES program also rehabilitated 45 education projects and intervened in over 40 flood/erosion control projects. More than over 153,000 beneficiaries benefitted from the community infrastructural support.
As part of the CARES Program, Kebbi was amongst the top performing states in the latest round of results after the verification exercise.”.