LAGOS: 20,843 households to get support for Covid-19 burden

ABOUT 20,843 households and 2512 Micro and Small Enterprises would be supported by the state government under its LagosCares Initiatives with support from World Bank in order to overcome the burden of Covid-19.

Governor Sanwo-Olu, who said he was delighted to launch the Nigeria Covid-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (N-CARES) Programme for Results (P4R) in Lagos State, said as a responsive government, his administration is constantly working round the clock to provide interventions, strategies and actions to alleviate the burden of the pandemic on the majority of “at risk” people, especially in the areas of food security and health management.

The governor, today, said during the 24-month period of implementation, the programme will directly support 20,843 households and indirectly support 125,058 individuals.

He further said there will also be interventions in 69 markets while a minimum of 2,512 MSEs will be supported.

“The programme is designed to be inclusive, purposeful and will impact women and the youth. This N-CARES programme is an integral part of the national approach, adopted to alleviate the burden of the Covid-19 pandemic, and enhance the wellbeing of our people.

“The Lagos State CARES Programme will be implemented between 2021 and 2023, and will provide economic relief and recovery support to identified vulnerable persons.

“The programme will specifically encompass three key result areas, which include:
(a) Increasing cash transfers and livelihood support to poor and vulnerable households;
(b) Increasing food security and safe functioning of food supply chains for poor households, and;
(c)Facilitating the recovery of Micro and Small Enterprises (MSMEs), while strengthening institutional support for coordination and delivery.”

To effectively implement the Lagos Cares Programme, he said the State CARES Steering Committee (SCSC) comprising cabinet members and policy heads shall oversee the programme and provide policy guidance as appropriate.

“The SCSC will work with the State CARES Coordinating Unit (SCCU) while the SCCU will work closely and relate directly with the delivery platforms of the three result areas for result monitoring and coordination.

“I have confidence in the ability of the members of the State’s CARES Steering Committee (SCSC) who have been part of the main drivers of our agenda for greater Lagos.

“I would like to remind the committee memebrs not to lose sight of the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda of the state government as they work on the three result areas.”

Sanwo-Olu said his administration will continue to collaborate with other people of goodwill in the public and private sectors, multilateral and donor partners as he delivers good governance to the people.

He urged all Lagosians to key into the derivable benefits of the initiative and cooperate with the independent verification agents that will be deployed to all neighbourhoods to ensure the success of this strategic programme.