CCT: Niger begins disbursement of grant to vulnerable persons

By Rita Iliya
Niger state Cash Transfer Unit has begun distribution of debit cards for 75, 000 grant to 46,533 economic shock response beneficiaries under the Renewed Hope Agenda Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Programme of President Bola Tinubu.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the initiative is part of efforts to cushion the impact of the current economic challenges on residents.

Alhaji Suleiman Kpange, State Programme Manager of Niger State Cash Transfer, inaugurated the distribution exercise on Saturday in Minna.

He explained that the debit cards would to be distributed to 46,000 vulnerable households across the state.

Kpange said that the programme was being implemented through the National Social Safety scale up (NASSP-2) using the National Social Register (NSR), National Beneficiary Register (NBR) and Rapid Response Register (RRR)

He explained that the intervention was designed as an economic shock response programme aimed at cushioning the effects of economic hardship on low-income and vulnerable households.

According to him, beneficiaries are entitled to a sum of N75,000 for the three tranches, N25,000 per tranche, to mitigate the impact of inflation, rising food prices and other economic challenges.

“The payment service providers are here today with 46,533 debit cards for beneficiaries across the 25 local government areas of the state.

“This is a mini flag-off for the continuation of the distribution exercise.

“The beneficiaries were selected through the National Social Register compiled by the national body and forwarded to the state for validation before being returned to the national level for approval,” he said.

He added that beneficiaries were also drawn from the Rapid Response Register (RRR), which captured vulnerable individuals and households in communities across the state.

Also speaking, Alhaji Ahmad Inga, Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, said the initiative was a Federal Government intervention targeted at vulnerable persons affected by prevailing economic conditions.

Inga said the ceremony marked the launch of another phase of debit card distribution under the Renewed Hope Agenda Conditional Cash Transfer Programme in the state.

He urged beneficiaries to utilise the funds judiciously to achieve the objectives of the programme.

“This intervention is aimed at helping vulnerable persons overcome economic shocks and improve their living conditions.

“I appeal to beneficiaries to make productive use of the funds, while assuring them of more government interventions,” he said.

Some beneficiaries who spoke to newsmen commended the Federal and State Governments for the initiative.

Mrs Tawakaltu Lawal, a petty trader, said the support would help expand her pepper business and improve her family’s welfare.

Similarly, Mr Salihu Abdullahi, a tomato trader, said he would invest the money in his business to enhance his income and support his household.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Nathan Nwakamma/ Isaac Ukpoju