World Bank Provides $320 Million To Assist Poor, Vulnerable Nigerians

The  World  Bank has provided $320 million  credit  to assist poor and vulnerable  Nigerians  in  remote  areas  through the Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA) .

CSDA has branches in 26 states  of  the  federation and  the  Federal Capital  Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The World  Bank  also late last year, approved $75 million for the North-East region for resettlement of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) .

Task Team Leader of CSDA in Nigeria, Prof Foluso Okunmadewa made these
disclosure yesterday in Ilorin,  Kwara State at the adoption of vulnerable groups’ operation manual meeting of the agency.

According to him, the project has gotten the support and endorsement of almost all the governors in the federation, noting that they “have all put the structures, mechanisms in place to be able to access the funds.”
“As at about seven years ago a credit of $200 million was provided by the World Bank to the government of Nigeria and was used up until 2015 by 26 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). And this was exhausted and the then Federal Government requested for additional financing of $140 million.

“It was provided and became effective in 2016. All the 26 states that were in original project are now active in this new additional financing of $140 million. All the states have established agencies and are moving into the communities to do all the micro projects that the communities have put forward.

“I must say that as a result of the insurgency in the north-east and the desire by the Federal Government and the states in the region to have some more funds that can help in the resettlement and recovery of livelihood of people back in the rural areas, an additional request of $75 million was made by the federal government to the World Bank to put resources into this kind of project that seems appropriate to be able to be used by these people as they go back.

“The $75 million was approved by the World Bank and Federal Executive Council, was provided late last year. It will become effective any moment from now.

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