October 25, (THEWILL) – The Bayelsa State Government has said that over four hundred thousand persons have benefited directly from the community intervention programme, Bayelsa-CARES, designed to lift people above the poverty level.
Giving the breakdown and success of the programme at a Press Conference in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State Focal Person, Mr Timipre Seipuluo, said the programme has expended N13.8 billion since commencement in January 2022 to date.
The programme, which was a response to cushion the effect of the 2019 global COVID-19 Pandemic which crippled economies around the world has empowered several Bayelsans.
The Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES), was the immediate response of the State in collaboration with the Federal Government to manage the hardship caused by the pandemic.
According to him, “The response was to impact the livelihoods of poor individuals, farmers, vulnerable households, communities and owners of micro and small enterprises.”
He said the Prosperity Administration of Senator Douye Diri, has put in all resources and personal attention to see the programme succeed and get to the rural communities.
Seipuluo said the programme was divided into three main Result Areas (RAs), which include: “Social Protection, Agriculture, as well as Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises”.
“The social protection platform, that is, Result Area 1 is being driven by the Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA), the second platform, which is Agriculture (Result Area 2) is under the charge of FADAMA while the third component Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (Result Area 3) is being powered by the Bayelsa State Micro Enterprise Development Agency (BYMEDA).
The three platforms are further broken into smaller components for ease of administration. The first platform, Social protection covers Social transfers; Labour and public works; Livelihood grants as well as Basic services. The second platform, Agriculture covers Agricultural inputs services; Agricultural assets services and Wet market while the third platform, Micro, small and medium enterprises covers Support to SMEs as operational grants”.
The Bayelsa-CARES, as a project, started in January 2022 with a total annual budget of US$20 million with a duration of two years. As of October 2024, about N16.8 billion has been released for the programme while the sum of N13.8 billion has been disbursed to the beneficiaries in the 8 selected areas to 466,732 direct beneficiaries. While over one million people have benefited indirectly in almost every community in Bayelsa State”.
Speaking further said, the programme has provided an alternative source of monthly income, like food to the average family, boosted agriculture, supported safe hygiene and improved infrastructures in the rural communities through local and indigenous contractors.
Saying deliberately, they have built capacities and put money in the hands of the people. “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. 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 lengths from 150 metres to 250 metres in 18 different communities”.
Amos Okioma is a Correspondent at THEWILL
