Delta floats initiative to mitigate COVID-19 impacts

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, yesterday, said COVID-19 had negatively impacted the nation’s economy in terms of huge losses of income and means of livelihoods for thousands.

He made the submission when he officially flagged off the state’s COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (D-CARES) project at the weekend in Asaba.

The governor explained that the project is to mitigate the adverse economic impacts of the pandemic. 

Implementation of activities under Result Areas I and II of the programme, he added, is a World Bank-supported intervention.

Okowa said the objective was to expand access to livelihood support and food security services, grants for poor and vulnerable households and firms. 

He pledged his administration’s commitment towards implementation of all aspects of the for the benefit of the people.  

The governor explained that the initiative would directly equip 25,269 poor and vulnerable households with social transfers, basic services and livelihood grants, while 13,976 farmers would increase food production and facilitate smooth functioning of the food supply chain, even as 2,529 medium and small-scale enterprises are to get post-COVID-19 loans to enhance their Information Technology (IT) capabilities.  

He advised the programme managers to display high performance and accountability levels for seamless execution.