The Kaduna State Government has begun distribution of the second batch of palliatives to the poor, vulnerable and underserved citizens in the state.
The second batch of palliatives comprise 128 trucks of rice and maize valued at N3.4 billion.
The second batch of palliatives would amount to a total of N11.4 billion, and at least 200,000 households are expected to benefit from the intervention project, the state Governor Uba Sani disclosed during the distribution flag-off in the state on Monday.
His words:
“I am happy to inform you that today we are commencing the distribution of 128 Trucks of Rice and Maize worth N3.4 Billion to the poor, vulnerable and underserved citizens of Kaduna State.
“We are targeting 200,000 households, and approximately one million persons”, the governor said.
Governor Sani further reiterated his commitment to ensuring financial inclusion for the poor and vulnerable in the state to benefit from all social intervention programmes both at the state and federal levels.
“We set for ourselves the target of facilitating the opening of 2.5 million bank accounts for poor, vulnerable and underserved citizens of Kaduna State.
“Through our efforts, 2 million bank accounts have been opened. We are working assiduously to ensure that bank accounts are opened for the remaining 500,000 less-privileged citizens of Kaduna State.
“We have developed a credible social register for cash transfers. We shall fully develop the cash transfer system because it has been proven to be an effective social protection measure.
” It has been successful in reducing poverty and food insecurity in many countries”, the governor said.
Governor Sani disclosed that his government earmarked N4.2 billion to empower vulnerable households, smallholder farmers, Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Persons Living With Disabilities, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), orphans, market women, and young people in the state.
The governor disclosed that 9,800 poor and vulnerable households, including over 1,000 persons with disabilities, had begun receiving alerts of N50,000 each.
He further added that grants to 7,500 Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) had commenced, and MSMEs were receiving amounts ranging between N100,000 and N500,000, with some receiving up to N1,000,000, depending on the size of the enterprise.
The intervention programme, according to Governor Sani, is geared towards empowering the less privileged, especially those in rural areas to eradicate extreme poverty in the state.