5570 Vulnerable Group Members receive Cash Grants in Cross River and Bayelsa – FG

5570 Vulnerable Group Members receive Cash Grants in Cross River and Bayelsa – FG

The Federal government of Nigeria has begun disbursement of Cash Grants to Vulnerable Groups in Cross River and Bayelsa states. 

Sadiya Umar Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development who flagged the programme off on Thursday said that the National Social Investment Programmes have reduced the poverty index in the country to 43%.

The Minister who launched  the digitized payment for the Conditional Cash Transfer programme and on-boarding of 2nd Stream of Independent Monitors Programme in Cross River State stated that the poverty index of Nigeria before the President Buhari led administration was at 70%.

The Minister added that “Since the inception of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Administration in 2015, when it inherited a national poverty incidence level averaging 70%, the Federal Government has paid more attention to generating solutions in addressing the plight of the poor and vulnerable in the country despite other economic challenges.

This informed the decision to initiate the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) as a strategy for poverty reduction and enhancing social inclusion among our people especially Women in rural areas, the Minister said. 

The Minister was also happy to say that the country’s poverty incidence has now reduced to 43% which is an achievement by this administration to reduce poverty by over 20%”.

Umar Farouq advised the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the grant to improve  their commercial activities which will help ease  them out of poverty.

In his welcome address, the Governor of Cross River State Prof. Benedict Ayade thanked the minister for her numerous humanitarian and Social welfare programs and called on the ministry to patronize rice farms established in the state specifically to support the Home Grown School Feeding Program.

“The school feeding program in Bayelsa state is very robust and the state has enjoyed special support from the federal government.

In Bayelsa state, Governor Douye Diri  also thanked the Minister for various Social Investment Programmes in the state which have greatly impacted the poor and vulnerable.

3351 beneficiaries from across the 11 Local Government Areas  of Cross River state will get a one-off grant N20,000 each while 50 Independent Monitors will get N30,000 monthly , devices and engagement letters. In Bayelsa State,  2219 vulnerable persons will benefit  as well as 40 Independent Monitors. The Minister added. 

5570 Vulnerable Group Members receive Cash Grants in Cross River and Bayelsa – FG