The Kaduna state government has commenced the distribution of the second batch of palliatives with 128 trucks of rice and maize worth N3.4 billion to the less privileged.
Govermor of the state, Senator Uba Sani disclosed this on Monday, during the flag-off of the distribution.
Sani said the second batch of the palliatives will gulp N11.4 billion.
Sani said 200,000 households, and approximately one million people are expected to benefit from the programme.
“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.
The governor said few days after his assumption of office, he signed an executive order on financial inclusion to address the exclusion of the poor and vulnerable from financial services to ensure that
they benefit from social intervention programmes of the state and the federal governments.
“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.
According to him, N4.2 billion has been earmarked for distribution to vulnerable households, small-holder farmers, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Persons With Disability, Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), orphans, market women and youths.
“As I am speaking to you now, 9,800 poor and vulnerable households, including over 1000 persons with disability have started receiving alerts. They are receiving N50,000
“We have commenced the release of grants to 7,500 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). The MSMEs are getting between N100,000 and N500,000, up to N1,000,000, depending on the size of the enterprise.
“Small businesses are the backbones of any economy. When we came to office in 2023, small businesses in Kaduna state were struggling to survive. Their number was less than 1000”, the governor said.
The governor added that his administration has identified poverty reduction in rural areas as key to unlocking the enormous potentials of Kaduna State.
He also said his administration is equally determined to reach the urban poor and assist them to escape extreme poverty.
By John Shiklam in Kaduna
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