The regime of President Muhammadu Buhari has begun the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme in Anambra with grants to 500 beneficiaries.

The event, attended by community leaders, government officials and beneficiaries drawn from the 21 Local Government Areas of the state, held at the Prof. Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre, Awka on Saturday.

The programme is in collaboration with the Anambra Government and executed by the National Social Investment Programme and the State Cash Transfer Unit.

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Farouq, inaugurated the programme. She was represented by Kingsley Ngene, Special Adviser Administration in the Ministry.

She advised Anambra people to always get involved in numerous social intervention programmes of the Federal Government so as to benefit like other Nigerians.

The minister explained that the programme was a support grant of N500,000 to the vulnerable households affected by banditry and the internally displaced persons.

“The grant is designed to empower the beneficiaries to improve their productivity, create wealth, generate employment and increase their commercial activities which is aimed at lifting them out of poverty,” Ms Umar-Farouq said.

Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra, represented by the state Commissioner for Women and Social Welfare, Ify Obinabo, noted that the state was working round the clock to make Anambra people comfortable.

She said that the present administration would continue to partner the Federal Government and other groups to open more windows of opportunities to the people.

Raphael Enukorah, Head Anambra State Cash Transfer Unit, advised the beneficiaries to judiciously use the money on ventures that would improve their living conditions.

The State Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Chiamaka Nnakie, was dissatisfied over the poor interest by Anambra people in social intervention programmes of the Buhari regime.

Mrs Nnakie encouraged the people to always apply, to benefit like other Nigerians, noting that the Buhari regime was doing a lot to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians.

(NAN)