President Muhammadu Buhari-led government is planning on sharing the sum of N20,000 to over 160,000 poor and vulnerable rural women to cushion the effects of COVID-19 pandemic.
The development was disclosed by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, on Wednesday.
Umar-Faruk stated this at the launching of the grant, on Wednesday, in Katsina state, where over 6,800 rural women would benefit.
The minister said, “We are targeting over 160,000 poor and vulnerable rural women in Nigeria for the N20,000 grant, to uplift their economic status. Our rural women with a disability will also be included.”
“It is my hope that the beneficiaries will use this opportunity to increase their income, enhance their food security and contribute toward improving their families”
“The N20,000, will go a long way in supporting any serious woman to start a business. What is most important is how judiciously you utilise the money”.
She further stated that the Kastina State Government received the sum of N9.5 billion under the Conditional Cash Transfer programme, from the inception of this administration to date.
Umar-Faruk noted that the grants have made life better for more than 142,474 poor people in the state who spread across 12 local governments.
The local governments include, Bakori, Batagarawa, Baure, Bindawa, Dandume, Ingawa, Kaita, Kankara, Mani, Musawa, Rimi and Danmusa.
She added that the Buhari administration in partnership with World Bank had designed a Safety Net programme for Nigeria, that included cash transfer, as well as a COVID-19 rapid response register.
“The President has approved 1 million beneficiaries in the country to be given another N5,000 for the next six months to cushion the effects of COVID-19. This time around, we are going to target the urban poor and the artisans who lost their small businesses as a result of the pandemic,” she said.
The state Governor, Aminu Masari who was represented by his deputy, Mannir Yakubu, commended the Federal Government for the grant.
He stated that the federal government has changed the life of many Nigerians through the social intervention programme.
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