Yobe, 15 August 2022 - The Yobe State Government, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has flagged off a cash grant distribution project targeting small business owners and vulnerable people in Buni Yadi, Gujba Local government Area, Yobe State. With a total contribution of 30,000,000 million Naira, the cash grant distribution with a focus on women and youths, seeks to alleviate the socio-economic impact of conflict, thereby contributing to the sustainable growth of the local economy and improved standard of living.

The crisis that hit northeast region in Nigeria since 2009 has disrupted the lives of the individuals in the community. The crisis has exerted a heavy toll on their livelihoods, impacting the functioning of businesses and other activities. Even as normalcy has returned and people are rebuilding their lives, they still require support to help them achieve resilience and have a more sustainable source of income. Asides the effects of crisis, Nigeria is battling an inflationary pressure which is affecting livelihoods and well-beings as prices of commodities have spiked.

750 traders in Buni Yadi will benefit from the cash grant transfers to ensure business continuity for some traders and empower others to start up new businesses, which will be of great benefit for the community.

The Executive Governor of Yobe State, H.E Mai Mala Buni, noted that this intervention, would go a long way to minimise the effects of the crisis and improve the livelihood of communities by ensuring that the grant gets to the most vulnerable. “The community is still recovering from the aftermath of the conflict, to ensure that they recover fully we need to support them in all areas to ensure they rebuild sustainably” he explained. I am confident that through targeted intervention such as this, traders will continue their business and not fold up, new business will spring up with ripple effect on the local economy.”  

Speaking about the grant, the UNDP Nigeria Head of Stabilization, Simon Ridley, reiterated that UNDP’s commitment in supporting affected individuals to build forward better is to ensure the stabilization of communities and provide sustainable livelihoods to guarantee future resilience. “Through this Cash Grant Project, UNDP Nigeria will support selected vulnerable communities affected by conflict to get back their livelihoods and strengthen their local economy. This will also enable them to fulfil the basic needs of their families and work towards achieving resilience”.

This project is supported through the Regional Stabilization Facility for Lake Chad, funded by the Nigeria Government, European Union, Germany, United Kingdom, Netherlands, and Sweden. Through this programme, UNDP is supporting efforts aimed at immediate stabilization of conflict-affected communities by providing all necessary support required for their rebuilding. The three main outputs targeted by the programme are improved community safety and security; re-establishment and functioning of essential infrastructure and basic services; and availability of livelihood opportunities at the household level.