President Muhammadu Buhari has inaugurated a Conditional Cash Transfer with 3351 vulnerable persons to benefit in Cross River State.
The cash transfer is under the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) initiated by President Muhammadu Buhari
meant to specially and effectively give a lifting hand to some of our poorest and vulnerable citizens in our country.
Inaugurating the Disaster Management and Social Development on behalf of the President in Calabar on Thursday in Calabar, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, said: “We are here in behalf of Buhari to give support to some of the most poor and vulnerable citizens in the country and Cross River in particular.
“The grant is a N20,000 one off grant to women and youths. Three rhousand three hundred and fifty-one (3,351) Cross Riverians will be paid and they are expected to use the money for empowerment and their small businesses.
“The programme which started during President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in 2015, when it inherited a national poverty incidence level averaging 70%, has paid more attention to generating solutions to address the plight of the poor and vulnerable in the country despite other economic challenges the administration inherited.
“It was initiate by the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) as a strategy for poverty reduction and enhancing social inclusion among our people especially Women in rural areas.
“Additionally, this NSIP has been acclaimed by many to be the largest and most ambitious social protection programme in Africa, and it’s currently attracting many partnerships with even international development partners.”
“Furthermore, about 15% of the total number of beneficiaries is specifically allocated to the segment of the population with special needs, including Persons with Disability (PWDs) and senior citizens in the State.
” It is on this note that we encourage the Cross River State Government to emulate this gesture and extend similar interventions to promote social inclusion in its policies, programmes and projects.
“It is our hope that the beneficiaries of this programme will make good use of the grant to improve productive activities that would generate more income and improve their living standard,” she stated.
She acknowledged the contributions of the state government to the success of the programme saying many more Nigerians in the State will be on their way out of poverty to prosperity and we will, as a country, remain on the track of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty by 2030.
One of the beneficiaries Comfort Archibong, a petty trader thanked the government for the money.
She said the money will go a long way in augmenting her petty trade.
Also speaking, Favour Bassey, a water leaf seller from Calabar Municipality thanked the government for remembering her and giving her the money.
She said: “My life has changed and I am so happy. This is marking one year since we started expecting it but when we were about to loose hope the money came, I really thank the president for this.”