Yagba West Gets NG-CARES, CSDP Boost, 2,929 Beneficiaries Targeted

Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi State is set to receive a major grassroots development boost, with 894 residents to benefit from the Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES 2.0), while another 2,035 people are expected to benefit from community development interventions under the Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA).

The intervention was unveiled by the Commissioner for Livestock Development, Dr Olufemi Bolarin, and the Commissioner for Environment and Ecological Management, Hon Engr Segun Joseph, following consultations with stakeholders and Polling Unit Vanguards across Yagba West Constituencies I and II.

The NG-CARES 2.0 intervention will cover all 14 wards and 102 polling units in the local government, with the allocation structured to promote equitable grassroots coverage.

The programme is designed to support poor and vulnerable households through livelihood support, cash transfers, agricultural assistance and other interventions.

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Under the arrangement, 436 beneficiaries will receive one-off livelihood grants of N100,000 each to establish or expand small businesses and other income-generating ventures.

Another 99 beneficiaries will participate in the Labour-Intensive Public Works component and receive N20,000 monthly for 12 months.

Similarly, vulnerable beneficiaries will receive N20,000 monthly cash transfers for 12 months, while 214 farmers will receive agricultural inputs and productive assets, including fertilisers, herbicides and other farming support.

The commissioners said the allocation covers wards including Ejiba; Odo-Eri/Okoto; Odo-Ere/Oko-Ere; Isanlu-Esa/Okoloke/Okunran; Iyamerin; Igbara-Uku; Odo-Ara/Omi/Oga; Ogbe; Oke-Egbe I, II, III and IV; and Odo-Egbe I, II and III.

They explained that the polling-unit-based distribution model was deliberately adopted to ensure that the interventions go beyond political leaders and the local government headquarters to communities and the intended beneficiaries.

Under the CSDA component, 20 communities in Yagba West, with an estimated 2,035 beneficiaries, have also been earmarked for community development interventions.

The projects are expected to focus on critical needs such as healthcare facilities, motorable roads and the construction or rehabilitation of public schools.

Bolarin and Joseph said communities that had not adequately benefited from previous interventions would receive particular attention, stressing that the consultations were intended to promote transparency, fairness and broad-based participation.

They urged stakeholders involved in the process to identify deserving beneficiaries, particularly vulnerable households, women, youths, farmers and economically disadvantaged residents, while avoiding personal interests and other considerations capable of undermining the objectives of the programme.

The commissioners attributed the expanded intervention to the people-oriented policies of Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, saying the administration remained committed to strengthening social protection, economic empowerment and community development across the state.

They said the combination of sustained cash support, livelihood grants, temporary employment, agricultural assistance and community infrastructure would help strengthen household resilience, support livelihoods and stimulate economic activities in Yagba West.

They also charged stakeholders to ensure proper identification of beneficiaries and transparent implementation, noting that the scale of the intervention required collective responsibility to achieve its intended grassroots impact.

The commissioners further called on the people of Yagba West to support the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the programmes of the All Progressives Congress (APC), arguing that continued collaboration between government and citizens was important to sustaining ongoing development initiatives.

They urged residents to participate peacefully in forthcoming elections and exercise their civic rights, while emphasising the need for continued support for development programmes targeted at improving livelihoods and delivering infrastructure at the grassroots.