•••As Bayelsa-CARES Reels -Out Achievements.
Bayelsa State Government has approved the extension of the State Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (Bayelsa-CARES) from the terminal date of June to December, 2024 and the continuation of the second Phase of the programme from January next.
Recall that the COVID-19 pandemic around the world affected livelihood of the poor and vulnerable as well as basic services, hence the immediate response of the State in collaboration with the Federal Government to manage the hardship.
Speaking during a press conference in Yenagoa, State Focal Pereon for Bayelsa-CARES, Mr Timiprey Seipuluo, said that the programme was yielding government desired result.
Mr Seipuluo, who noted that the programme is divided into three areas such as Social Protection, Agriculture and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.
According to him, the social protection platform is being driven by the Community and Social Development Agency, the second platform, which is Agriculture, is managed by FADAMA while the third component Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises is being powered by BYMEDA.
Mr Seipuluo, who is also the Special Adviser to the governor on Treasurey and Accounts, remarked that Bayelsa-CARES, as a project, started in January of 2022 with a total annual budget of US$20 million with a duration of two years.
He said N16.8 billion was released on October for the programme for this month, the sum of N13.8 billion was disbursed to 466,732 direct beneficiaries in the eighth selected areas, while over one million people have benefited indirectly in almost every community in the State.
The governor’s aide said the programme has provided an alternative source of monthly income, food to the average family, boost agriculture, support safe hygiene, and improve infrastructures in the rural communities through local and indigenous contractors.
In the area of social transfer, the State Focal Pereon for Bayelsa-CARES, hinted that over 10,000 persons have benefited from the Social Transfer package of N10,000 monthly which was sourcesed by the State Social Registers.
While stressing that 3,289 unemployed youths across 165 communities have been paid the sum of N15,000 monthly from June 2022, Mr Seipuluo also noted that 3,301 beneficiaries in 330 communities have benefited from the payment of N70,000 to N100,000.00 to help lift them above the poverty line.
He also said that 440 Community Development Projects are being built in 220 communities across the eight Local Government Areas with two projects in each of the 220 selected communities.
In the area of special intervention, he said concrete roads have been constructed in urban, semi urban and rural communities to improve road infrastructure in the State with about N480 million Naira been spent on the completion of 18 roads of different length from 150 metres to 250 metres in 18 different communities.
He noted under programme, the State Government has renovated the health centre in Tungbo community, Sagbama Local Government Area and provided hospital equipment to the health centre in Obogoro in Yenagoa LGA.
Mr Seipuluo, hinted that the programme has supported farmers with farm equipment and inputs to boost food production and improve the economic life of the farmers.
The SA on Accounts and Revenue, who, said the scheme has supported 15,455 registered businesses across the eight Local Government Areas with the financial support of N50,000 to N500,000.00, noted that
a system to monitor and measure business performance has been put in place.
He said the operation of the scheme is documented and also regularly reviewed and confirmed by independent third parties engaged by the World Bank.
