Dutse — The federal government has released N3.8billion through the Debt Relief Grains (DRG) programmes to boost all the pro- poor projects and programmes in Jigawa State between 2006/07, the senior special assistant to the president MDG, Hajia Amina Ibrahim, has said.

Hajia Amina Ibrahim disclosed this in Jigawa yesterday, during a courtesy visit to governor Sule Lamido, stressing that the state received N776 million under the conditional grants to fund projects in water supply, sanitation and health.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President, who said she was in the state as part of her nationwide tour to assess the MDG project in all the states of the federation, informed the governor that the state will receive another N775 million under the grant before the end of the year.

Her words: "Jigawa State was also a beneficiary of the conditional cash transfer programme of N259 million in 2007 and 2008. The programme releases stipends to vulnerable families to enable them sponsor their school age children to school".

She explained that the conditional cash transfer is expected to fast-track the achievements of beneficiaries of the MDG programmes to help eradicate poverty in the country.

Hajia Amina then explained that the quick-wins which will take place in federal constituencies is intended to have the quickest impact of achieving the MDGs programmes that are focussed on maternal health, malaria, rural water and youth empowerment.

She further disclosed that, under the national midwifery corporation scheme, 3000 midwives from all the states will be trained in maternal health care system.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President, however, expressed appreciation to Jigawa State government for their partnership.