From Okwe Obi, Abuja
To reduce poverty, the Federal Government has begun the disbursement of N20,000 each to 2,900 women in the Federal Capital Territory, amounting to N58 million which is under the National Cash Transfer for Vulnerable Groups.
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, also disclosed that the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), gulp N400 billion annually.
Umar Farouq, while flagging off disbursement, yesterday in Abuja, reiterated government’s resolve to lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty.
“Our target in the FCT is to disburse the grant to over 2,900 beneficiaries across the 6 Area Councils,” she said.
The minister explained that, “70% of the total number of beneficiaries is for women while the remaining 30% is for the youths.
“In addition, 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), internally displaced persons (IDPs) and senior citizens in the FCT.
“The cash grant we are disbursing today is expected to increase income and productive assets of the target beneficiaries, especially when economic challenges at global and local levels are worsening affecting the socioeconomic situation conditions of our people.
“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.
“We hope to see petty traders, peasant farmers, artisanal workers and other beneficiaries of this programme including people with disabilities to prospering.”