The Akwa Ibom State Government has praised President Bola Tinubu for expanding support to vulnerable Nigerians through the Federal Government’s Social Safety Net Programme, describing the initiative as a major step toward improving the livelihoods of people at the grassroots.
Speaking during the ongoing distribution of preloaded debit cards to beneficiaries in Ika Local Government Area, the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Princess Emem Ibanga, said the programme reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to reaching vulnerable citizens directly.
According to her, 56,402 beneficiaries selected from the National Social Register across the state’s 31 local government areas are receiving debit cards preloaded with N25,000 monthly for three months, bringing the total support for each beneficiary to N75,000.
Ibanga noted that the funds would provide the much needed financial relief and could serve either as start-up capital for aspiring entrepreneurs or as additional support for existing small businesses, ultimately improving household incomes and livelihoods.
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She said the Federal Government’s intervention complements the humanitarian programmes of the Akwa Ibom State Government under Governor Umo Eno, who has continued to prioritise the welfare of residents.
The commissioner disclosed that more than 650,000 households have already benefited from the state’s food security and palliative initiatives through free food distribution and other humanitarian interventions.
She also announced that another round of state-sponsored palliative distribution would begin immediately, even as the federal debit card distribution continues across the local government areas.
The Commissioner further revealed that the state government is set to roll out financial support for women’s cooperatives in all 31 local government areas as part of Governor Eno’s commitment to women’s economic empowerment, poverty reduction and grassroots development.
She explained that the combination of the Federal Government’s cash support and the state’s humanitarian programmes would strengthen Akwa Ibom’s social protection framework by providing vulnerable residents with both financial assistance and essential welfare support.
Also speaking, the Chairman of Ika Local Government Council, Barrister Utibe Nwoko, expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for extending the Social Safety Net Programme to the area.
He disclosed that 1,682 residents of Ika Local Government are benefiting from the intervention and commended the Federal Government for the initiative.
