The wife of Abia Governor, Mrs. Nkechi Ikpeazu, has assured Abians that the ongoing plan of the National Cash Transfer Programme of the Federal Government of Nigeria to capture the remaining 11, Local Government Areas of Abia state would be successful adding that very soon the payments will reach every low income household in the state.
This, she explained at the flag off of the first pilot phase of the conditional cash transfer to the beneficiaries today at Isiala Ngwa North LGA.
According to her, “beginning today, each beneficial household will receive #30,000 during the payment circle of which 9,377, households will benefit from the six pilot LGAs of Isiala Ngwa North, Isiala Ngwa South, Ugwunagbo, Ukwa East, Umunneochi and Ohafia Isiala “.
Again, a total of 540 million naira will be disbursed, this sum will greatly stimulate the economy of households and have a positive domino effect on local communities and Abia at large.
Also, the Governor’s wife explained that the poverty alleviation programme jointly funded by both the World Bank and the Federal Government of Nigeria is specifically to lift our poorest of the poor, the aged and the physically challenged out of poverty.
The programme, she noted is designed to build their resilience to absorb shocks through a series of well structured capacity building and trainings where beneficiaries are equipped so as not to relapse into poverty again.
However, the Abia First Lady thanked Governor Ikpeazu, for his vision in ensuring that Abia state draws down every programme that will benefit the people especially the poor and the vulnerable and advised the beneficiaries to use the opportunity to make meaningful changes in their lives.
In his address, the Transition Committee Chairman, Isiala Ngwa North LGA, Mr. Udo Young Nwogwugwu, said that it is a thing of joy that the Governor’s wife came to flag the programme off for us.
This he said shows her concerns for the downtrodden to be lifted out of poverty and encouraged the beneficiaries to engage the money in a profitable venture that will increase and multiply the money.
Earlier in their speeches, the focal person, Abia social investment programme, Mr. Chinenye Nwogu, and the permanent secretary, Abia planning commission, Dr. Nnenna Chikezie, said that most of the social investment programmes are focused on the poor to lift them out of poverty.
