60,000 Benue residents, businesses benefit from N4.9bn grants

Jacyntha Ngodoo Tor-Wombo, the Benue State coordinator of NG Cares programme, tagged, “Crystal Alia Care”, has said that over 60,000 vulnerable residents of Benue State have benefited a total of 4.9,000,000,000 from the programme.

The Coordinator states this on Wednesday while briefing Newsmen in her Office at the State Civil Service Secretariat in Makurdi, the State Capital.

According to Tor-Wombo, Alia Cares aims and objectives are to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor, focusing on the vulnerable members of the society especially the poorest of the poor.

“In achieving these, Alia Cares uses the State Operations Coordinating Unit (SOCU) to create a social register, which help identify and select beneficiaries”, she added.

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Tor-Wombo emphasised that the programme was specifically designed for those who cannot afford basic needs such as shelter, health care, food, clothing among others, which has been operating in three phases, with three result areas that provide support for livelihood.

“All Micro and small businesses in Benue State’s 23 local government areas are eligible to benefit from the programme for the businesses contribute to the State’s economic growth and are budget-driven. Based on the assessment, the World Bank reimburses the State Government so far with approximately ₦4.9 billion which has been disbursed”, she said.

Jacyntha who denied the allegations that the programme had been hijacked by politicians, highlighted that the programme was designed to cater for every aspect of the population, including women, children, and youths.