Zamfara State Government under the leadership of Governor Dauda Lawal has earmarked N7.2 billion for development projects across 375 communities in the state, under the Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES), a World Bank-funded initiative. Deputy Governor Mani Mummuni disclosed this in Gusau on Tuesday while flagging off a free project implementation training programme for participants drawn from 158 communities across the state.
He explained that Governor Dauda Lawal had approved the N7.2 billion for various community development projects through the State Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA), adding that the funds would finance projects spanning health, education, water supply, agriculture and drainage, among others, across the state’s 14 Local Government Areas. The deputy governor noted that the projects would be implemented by Community Project Monitoring Committees (CPMCs) under the supervision of the CSDA, and reiterated the state government’s commitment to providing social amenities to vulnerable communities.
Mummuni urged participants to ensure transparency and accountability in managing resources for project execution in their communities, describing the initiative as part of Governor Lawal’s administration’s effort to extend the dividends of democracy to the people, especially at the grassroots level. He expressed confidence that the training under CSDA would encourage community participation in project implementation, while also promoting transparency, accountability, and commitment to the development of their communities.
In his remarks, the General Manager of CSDA, Umar Nakwada, revealed that the participants were drawn from CPMCs responsible for monitoring projects in their communities, and that the training was designed to sensitise them on effective project implementation. He stated that the training covered Batch A projects worth N3.2 billion, spanning 158 communities, and assured that the agency would ensure effective monitoring of all projects to be implemented by CPMC members in benefiting communities. Nakwada also commended Governor Lawal for his unwavering support in improving the livelihoods of grassroots communities.
Also speaking, the State NG-CARES Coordinator, Mukhtar Ibrahim, praised the Zamfara Government for its commitment to supporting the livelihoods of vulnerable households. He explained that NG-CARES aims to expand access to livelihood support, food security services, and grants for poor and vulnerable households and firms, focusing on three result areas: livelihood and social support, food security and agricultural value chain, as well as micro and small enterprises recovery. small enterprises recovery,” Ibrahim said.
