Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, has restated his administration’s commitment to empowering communities and sustaining programmes that directly impact the lives of ordinary citizens.
Governor Namadi gave the assurance in Dutse when he received the National Coordinator of the Nigeria COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programme NG-CARES Dr. Abdulkareem Obaje, and his team, who were in the state for a monitoring visit and documentary production.
Dr. Obaje commended Jigawa State for being among the top-performing states in the implementation of the NG-CARES initiative since its launch in 2021.
He explained that the programme, initiated in response to the economic impact of COVID-19, was designed to support states in reviving local economies and improving livelihoods.
“The NG-CARES programme has run for four years and reached about 70 million Nigerians. We have reimbursed participating states to the tune of 696 million dollars,” Dr. Obaje said.
He noted that Jigawa alone had accessed about 9.6 million dollars under the first phase of the scheme and praised the state for its transparency and strong community ownership.
Dr. Obaje further disclosed that the second phase NG-CARES 2.0 — would take effect by December 9th, once all necessary agreements with 
the Federal Ministry of Finance are finalised.
Responding, Governor Namadi described NG-CARES as one of the most impactful initiatives reaching the poorest households across Jigawa State.
The governor revealed that he personally advocated for the continuation of NG-CARES at the Nigeria Governors’ Forum and World Bank levels, insisting that the programme’s success should not be allowed to fade.
Governor Namadi pledged full state support for the new phase of the programme, saying it aligns with his administration’s renewed focus on social protection, agricultural productivity, and rural empowerment.
The visit forms part of a nationwide assessment tour by the NG-CARES coordination office to document success stories and gather feedback ahead of the rollout of the second phase.
As the federal and state governments prepare to launch NG-CARES 2.0, the programme is expected to strengthen social protection, boost local economies, and lift millions more Nigerians out of poverty.
