THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR BUDGET AND NATIONAL PLANNING, PRINCE CLEM AGBA,STATED  AT THE MINISTERIAL TOWN HALL MEETING FOR BENEFICIARIES OF THE SCHEME FROM EDO, DELTA, BAYELSA AND RIVERS STATES IN BENIN CITY THAT  THE WORLD BANK HAS GRANTED A ONE-YEAR EXTENSION FOR THE NIGERIA CARES PROGRAMME. THE PROGRAMME WAS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT MICRO, SMALL AND MEDIUM-SCALE ENTERPRISES TO CUSHION THE EFFECTS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. AGBA NOTED THAT  THERE WAS ALSO APPROVAL TO GIVE CASH ADVANCES TO THE 36 STATES OF THE FEDERATION SINCE MANY OF THEM WOULD BE GETTING NEW GOVERNORS, AND THE CASH CRUNCH OCCASIONED BY COVID-19 WAS STILL NOT OVER AND STILL AFFECTING THE STATES.