The Rivers State Government has launched the State Covid-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (RIV- CARES) Programme.
Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike performed the launching at the NBA Secretariat in Port Harcourt, on Tuesday 24th May 2022.
Speaking through his Deputy, Dr. Mrs. Ipalibo Harry Banigo, Governor Wike, said the programme was to mitigate the impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic, on the poor and vulnerable households and support micro and small-scale enterprises as a means of stimulating economic growth post covid.
According to the State Chief Executive, the State Government had signed in for the Programme, made provisions in the 2022 Budget for Result Areas and signed Funds Release Policy, which is an assurance to the World Bank that funds shall be released for the implementation of the programme.
Governor Wike said the launching of the RIV-CARES Programme would create awareness for the People of the State and engender expression of interest by beneficiary households, communities and operators of micro and small businesses. (SMEs).
The Governor, who encouraged the Rivers People to take advantage of the opportunities provided by RIV-CARES, to enhance their means of livelihood and reduce the spate of poverty in our communities, commended the World Bank and the Federal CARES for their support to the State.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Mrs. Titilola Kuna Cline, said in a bid to better the negative effects of Covid -19 Pandemic on livelihood, food security and micro and small businesses, the World Bank in partnership with the Federal Government of Nigeria, and the State Governments, introduced the Nigeria Covid-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES) Programme.
She said the State scaled through rigorous preparatory stages and qualified to participate in the programme whose objective is “to expand access to livelihood support and food security services, and grants for poor and vulnerable households and firms”.
Also speaking the Representative of the World Bank Mr. Aso Vakporaye, said the programme must succeed in order to kick our poverty from the State in view of the fact that failure to kick out poverty, would make life difficult for the entire citizenry and thanked Governor Wike for making it possible for Rivers State to participate in the Programme.
