Naijacentral Naijacentral
By Naijacentral
The Enugu State Government has unveiled the Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) Operation 2.0, an intervention programme aimed at empowering no fewer than 3,000 rural dwellers across the state.
The programme is organised by the State Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA).
It is designed to sensitise stakeholders and communities on the implementation of NG-CARES Operation 2.0, with a focus on Water, Sanitation, and Livelihood grants.
Unveiling the initiative, Gov. Peter Mbah, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, described the programme as a landmark collaboration between the federal and state governments to address economic challenges at the grassroots.
According to him, the initiative is coming at a critical time when inflation and global economic shifts are impacting rural communities the most.
“This programme is a testament to what can be achieved when different tiers of government align their vision to confront national economic challenges.
“We are building a more resilient Enugu State focused on the needs of our grassroots population,” he said.
Mbah noted that NG-CARES Operation 2.0 is structured around three key pillars—provision of potable water, improved sanitation, and livelihood support for vulnerable populations.
He explained that the water component would expand solar-powered water schemes to improve access to clean water, reduce water-borne diseases, and lessen the burden on women and children who often traveled long distances to fetch water.
On sanitation, the governor said the government would construct modern toilet facilities and strengthen hygiene practices across rural communities to improve public health and dignity.
Speaking on livelihood support, he said the programme would provide targeted grants to vulnerable individuals based on verified data, stressing that beneficiaries would be selected strictly on merit and need.
“The era of top-down governance is over. This is a community-driven development model where the people play a central role in decision-making and oversight,” he added.
Earlier, the General Manager and Chief Executive Officer, CSDA, Monday-Diamond Ani, said the programme would distribute empowerment tools to about 3,000 beneficiaries.
He disclosed that the intervention would include about 2,480 Point of Sale (POS) machines and 520 vocational tools such as sewing, grinding, and hairdressing machines.
Ani explained that beneficiaries would be selected from 18 years and above, with a deliberate focus on vulnerable individuals identified through community-based assessments and the state social register.
He emphasised that the selection process would be apolitical, noting that an independent committee would verify beneficiaries to prevent undue influence or favoritism.
“We will scout for the truly vulnerable in communities. This is not a political programme. Our goal is to minimise poverty and ensure the support reaches those who genuinely need it,” he said.
He added that the programme would run through the end of the year, beginning with community sensitisation and beneficiary selection, followed by implementation and monitoring.
Ani further disclosed that beneficiaries would be monitored through both physical oversight and ICT-based systems to ensure proper utilisation of the support provided.
On inclusion, he assured that persons with disabilities would be actively considered, describing them as a critical part of the intervention.
He explained that the programme was fully funded by the Enugu State Government, reflecting the administration’s commitment to grassroots development.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Isi-Uzo Local Government Area, Mr Obiora Obeagu, commended the initiative, describing it as a non-political intervention targeted at improving the lives of rural dwellers.
He expressed optimism that the programme would have a significant positive impact at the grassroots level, adding that local government authorities would collaborate to ensure its success and prevent political interference.
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