ANAMBRA RESIDENTS BENEFIT FROM FG CONDITIONAL CASH TRANSFER

President Muhammadu Buhari says he is committed to alleviating the sufferings of the citizens, especially during the current COVID-19 pandemic. The President gave the assurance in a message to the commencement of the distribution of the Conditional Cash Transfer to beneficiaries in Anambra State.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq, represented the President on the occasion, which took place at St Theresa’s Catholic Church Uli, in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State. The Conditional Cash Transfer initiative is one of the social investment programmes introduced by the Federal Government designed to reduce poverty in Nigeria.

According to President Muhhamadu’s message, the federal government decided to pay two months upfront to the beneficiaries, which amounts to twenty thousand Naira each to cushion the effect of the stay at home directive caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The message indicated that plans were on to expand the register of the Conditional Cash Transfer to accommodate more vulnerable persons and poor families from across the country into the scheme.

In an interview, the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Cash Transfer Office Abuja, Mrs. Mabel Onyekachi, said the scheme aside giving out cash was also building their capacity to encourage them to be self reliant.

Also, the Head of unit Cash Transfer Anambra State, Mr. Raphel Enukora, said eight thousand, one hundred and thirteen vulnerable persons and households from the six selected pilot local governments areas in the state have so far benefited from the cash transfer.

He said two local governments were selected from each of the three senatorial zones of the state, which are Awka North, Dunukofia, Anambra West, Ayamelum, IIhiala and Orumba South.

In their separate remarks, the National Auditor of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Paul Chukwuma and the State Chairman of the party, Mr. Basil Ejidike, commennded President Muhamadu Buhari for the initiative, which they said was not based on party affiliation.

Some of the beneficiaries, including Mrs. Mary Nzerioha and Mr. Ephraim Enwerem, commended the Federal Government saying the cash transfer had alleviated their sufferings.

The humanitarian Affairs Minister was accompanied to the visit by the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Emeka Nwajuiba and other dignitaries.

UCHE NDEKE