The Federal Government has commenced the distribution of N20, 000 cash grants to 9,925 vulnerable people in Kano State under the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP).
The Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Hajiya Sadiya Umar-Farouq said this at the launch of the programme yesterday in Kano.
The minister was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr Nasiru Sani-Gwarzo.
“Today, we are here to kick-start the Grant for Vulnerable Groups programme (GVG) in Kano State.
“It is consistent with his deliberate national agenda of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years.
“The GVG was designed to provide a one-off grant, a cash grant of N20, 000 to some of the poorest and most vulnerable Nigerians in rural and semi-urban areas across the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory,” she said.
The minister also said the President has directed that, at least 15 per cent of the total number of beneficiaries must specifically be allocated to citizens with special needs.
They include Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and Senior Citizens in the state.
“It is expected that the beneficiaries will use the grants to improve their productivity, create wealth, generate employment and improve their living standard,” she said.
The minister also launched digitised payment of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) and Sensitisation of Community Stakeholders of the National Home-grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) in the state.
Governor Abdullahi Ganduje, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Usman Alhaji, commended the Federal Government for the programme.
He said it would be recorded by history that the administration of Buhari did well in improving the living condition of the vulnerable groups.
Ganduje urged the Federal Government to give special consideration to the state for its high population.