Federal Capital Territory Administration has received $15m from the World bank support of $750m through the federal government to mitigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic nationwide, most especially among the poor and vulnerable households, and supporting the recovery of local economic activities.
The FCTA permanent secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, who made this known on Tuesday during the inauguration of a steering committee to pilot the FCT CARES program, explained that the scheme would use the money to help restore the livelihood of the poor and vulnerable, maintaining food security and facilitating recovery of small and medium scale enterprises.
Adesola, who was represented by the director, FCT Human Resources Management, Bashir Mohammed, explained that the appearance of COVID-19 in Nigeria in 2020 had a devastating impact on jobs and livelihoods, that the lockdown which was imposed as part of containment measures against the virus severely affected income, as businesses were limited and restricted in the FCT.
According to him, a significant reopening of the economy has been ongoing for several months, but the recovery from last year’s forced contraction and economic difficulties continues.
“The FCTA is particularly eager to support the acceleration and expansion of this recovery to help businesses regain markets, income, and confidence. The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global economy arising from the global lockdown and its severe negative impact on livelihood and food cannot be overemphasized.
“As a result of this, the federal government in collaboration with the World Bank and the Nigeria Governors Forum developed the States/FCT CARES program to cushion the effect of the pandemic, most especially on the most vulnerable segment of the Nigeria population,” he said.
Ada Peter
