The Zamfara State Government says it has earmarked N7.2 billion for development projects in 375 communities across the state.
The programme is being implemented under the Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus (NG-CARES), a World Bank-funded project.
Deputy Governor Mani Mummuni disclosed this in Gusau on Tuesday while flagging off free project implementation training for participants from 158 communities across the state.
Mummuni said Governor Dauda Lawal had approved N7.2 billion for various community development projects through the State Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA).
The deputy governor said the approval would finance 375 community development projects across the 14 Local Government Areas of the state.
He said the projects cover health, education, water supply, agriculture, drainage, and others.
“They will be implemented by Community Project Monitoring Committees (CPMCs) under CSDA supervision,” he said.
Mummuni reiterated the state government’s commitment to providing social amenities to vulnerable communities.
He urged participants to ensure transparency and accountability in managing resources for project execution in their communities.
“This is part of Governor Lawal’s administration’s effort to extend the dividends of democracy to the people, especially at the grassroots level,” he said.
“I believe this training under CSDA will encourage community participation in project implementation. It will also promote transparency, accountability, and commitment to the development of your communities,” the deputy governor added.
In his remarks, the General Manager of CSDA, Umar Nakwada, said participants were drawn from CPMCs responsible for monitoring projects in their communities.
Nakwada said the training was designed to sensitise participants on project implementation.
“This training is for Batch A projects worth N3.2 billion, covering 158 communities. Part of our responsibility is to train participants on effective utilisation of resources allocated to the projects,” he said.
Nakwada commended Governor Lawal for supporting the improvement of livelihoods in grassroots communities.
He assured that the agency would ensure effective monitoring of all projects to be implemented by CPMC members in benefiting communities.
Also speaking, the State NG-CARES Coordinator, Mukhtar Ibrahim, commended the Zamfara Government for supporting the livelihoods of vulnerable households.
According to Ibrahim, NG-CARES aims to expand access to livelihood support, food security services, and grants for poor and vulnerable households and firms.
“NG-CARES is focusing on three result areas: livelihood and social support, food security and agricultural value chain, as well as micro and small enterprises recovery,” he said.
Papers were also presented during the training on the roles and responsibilities of CPMC members, monitoring and evaluation, environmental safeguards, conflict management, procurement, and store management.
