Governor Bello Appreciates FG’s N80m Grant To Niger State Rural Women

By Samuel Ohwovoriole

The Governor of Niger state, Abubakar  Bello, has expressed delight in the disbursement of Eighty million Naira  to 4,000 women in the state under the Federal Government’s Cash Grant for Rural Women programme.

Governor Bello made this known on Saturday when the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Umar Farouq visited the  state on Saturday. The Governor stated that the  Cash Grant for Rural Women will lift many women in the state out of abject poverty.

The Governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government Ahmed Alli said that the Grant came at a time when the people of Niger state have been impoverished following incessant banditry attacks which has forced many people to relocate to IDP camps; rustling and lately the Covid19 scourge. He said that he is optimistic that the women will use the grant to improve their livelihoods.

“I thank Mr President for this initiative of empowering rural women all over the country through this Special Cash Grant. We are grateful for all the Federal government interventions given to the state especially during the floods, banditry, Conditional Cash Transfer, GEEP, N-Power and the Home Grown School Feeding Programme amongst others.

“We still need more of the intervention in Niger state. Our people have been further impoverished following insecurity caused by banditry, rustling and other social issues. However, I can assure you that these women will make maximum use of this cash grant given to them,” he said.

Sadiya Farouq, while flagging off the programme in the state said  that the cash grant was part of the social protection programmes of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government, aimed at uplifting the most vulnerable groups out of poverty.

“Your Excellency, as part of efforts of the Government to eradicate poverty and hunger across the country, it established the National Social Investment Programmes (NSIP) that enhances social inclusion and protection of the most vulnerable groups in the country and it is one of the biggest social protection programmes in Africa.

“As part of President Muhammadu Buhari’s vision to lift 100 million Nigerian out of poverty in 10 years, the Federal Government through my Ministry introduced the Special Cash Grant Programme for rural women which is being flagged off today.

“It is designed to provide a one-off grant of N20,000.00 to the poorest and most vulnerable women in rural Nigeria to increase their access to financial capital required for economic activities. The grant is disbursed to over 150,000 poor rural women across the 36 States of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory”.

She said Niger state already received a total sum of N1,991,070,000.00 (One Billion, Nine Hundred and Ninety-One Million, Seventy Thousand Naira only) from the Federal Government Conditional Cash Transfer programme, while impacting the lives of 43,611 poor and vulnerable households (PVHHs). 

12  local government councils including Wushishi, Chanchaga, Bida, Kontagora, Rafi, Bargu, Agaie, Mashegu Katcha, Bosso, Munya, Lapai, Lavun LGA’s. are currently benefiting from the Federal Government CCT programme in Niger State.

Beneficiaries of the Rural Women’s Cash Grant were selected from the 25 local government councils of the state.

Dignitaries at the flag-off include the Minister of State Foreign Affairs Ambassador Zubair Dada, Director General of NEMA,  AVM Muhammadu Alhaji Muhammed, Speaker Niger State House of Assembly Alhaji Muhammed Abdullahi Bawa Wuse who was represented by the Chairperson, House Committee on Women Affairs, Hajiya Binta Mamman and the Niger state Head of Service Hajiya Salamatu T Abubakar.

others included the  Director Finance and Administration NSIP Humanitarian Affairs Ministry, Mallam Abdullahi Musa Yusuf, Niger state Focal Person and Special Adviser on Social Investment Programmes Barrister Amina Musa Gu’ar, State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Tasalla Fati Ibrahim and other women leaders. 

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