Jigawa Launches Third Phase of Civil Servants’ Agricultural Support Programme
Hussaini Ibrahim 
DUTSE, Nigeria – Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State has launched the third phase of the Civil Servants’ Agricultural Support Programme, while also unveiling the completion report of the Jigawa COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus Programme (J-CARES 1.0).
The initiatives aim to strengthen livelihoods and expand economic opportunities for residents across the state.
The development is disclosed in a statement issued Friday by Hamisu Mohammed Gumel, Chief Press Secretary to the governor.
Speaking at the launch of the agricultural initiative under the 2026 Dry Season Rice Production Programme, Namadi described the intervention as a strategic policy designed to encourage civil servants to actively participate in agriculture while boosting household income.
“As we know, the Civil Servants’ Agricultural Support Programme is a well-packaged initiative aimed at providing access to quality agricultural inputs at controlled prices with additional working capital to offset other cost components,” the governor says.
He explains that the support is provided as soft loans with flexible repayment options, allowing beneficiaries to repay either in cash or in kind over an extended period.
According to Namadi, the first phase supported 8,432 beneficiaries with government assistance exceeding ₦3.03 billion, while 5,750 civil servants benefited from nearly ₦1.26 billion during the second phase.
Under the third phase, about 3,000 additional beneficiaries will receive support valued at more than ₦1.6 billion, bringing the total investment in the programme to over ₦5.9 billion and benefiting more than 17,000 civil servants across the state.
At a separate event in Dutse, the governor also presented the completion report of J-CARES 1.0, implemented with support from the World Bank to mitigate the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Korede Abdullah 
