Yemisi Izuora
The Federal Government says about 160,000 poor and vulnerable rural women would benefit from the N20,000 cash grant to cushion the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar-Farouk.
She made the disclosure at the launch of the grant on Wednesday, in Katsina, where 6,800 rural women would benefit.
“We are targeting over 160,000 poor and vulnerable rural women in Nigeria for the N20,000 grant to uplift their economic status. Our rural women with disability will also be included.
“It is my hope that the beneficiaries will use this opportunity to increase their income; enhance their food security and contribute toward improving their families. The N20,000 will go a long way in supporting any serious woman to start a business. What is most important is how judiciously you utilise the money.”
The Minister said that over N9.5 billion was received by Katsina State under the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme from inception of this administration to date.
She stated that the grants had impacted on the lives of over 142,474 vulnerable households in the state; as 12 local governments were currently benefitting from the programme. The minister listed the benefitting local governments to include, Bakori, Batagarawa, Baure, Bindawa and Dandume.
Others are Ingawa, Kaita, Kankara, Mani, Musawa, Rimi and Danmusa.
In addition, she revealed that the Federal Government, in partnership with the World Bank, had designed a Safety Net programme; adding that this included cash transfer, as well as a COVID-19 rapid response register.
“The President has approved one million beneficiaries in the country to be given another N5,000 for the next six months; to cushion the effects of COVID-19. This time around, we are going to target the urban poor and the artisans who lost their small businesses as a result of the pandemic.’’