The Federal Government has inaugurated the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and WFP unconditional cash transfer for vulnerable communities affected by COVID -19 in Kano.
Inaugurating the project on Monday in Kano, the minister for Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, Hajiya Sadiya Farouk said that the gesture would cushion the effect of the pandemic through stepped-up action to protect the very vulnerable.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Alhaji Bashir Alkali, she urged the state government to implement and handle the exercise in transparent manner for the benefit of those who are identified as beneficiaries of the project.
The minister said that the ministry is prepared to collaborate with the state government to ensure the success of the project.
According to her, the beneficiaries are drawn from the ministry’s social register through its programme, National Social Safety network coordinating office.
She said the ministry is working with UNDP to alleviate the suffering of the people affected by the pandemic.
Farouk said that the ministry has finalised arrangements to start the rapid response registry targeting one million poor people for the cash transfer.
The minister commended UNDP, WFP, Kano government and other donor agencies for their efforts in assisting the less privileged.
Earlier, Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje who thanked the donor agencies for the gesture, restated his government’s commitment to bring succor to the people affected by the pandemic in the state.
He said that the state government distributed palliative to over 300,000 households in the state.
Ganduje said that his administration is ready to partner with UNDP, WFP or any other relevant agencies to ameliorate the suffering of the masses.
Muhammad Yahaya, the representative of UNDP, said that UNDP is championing the basket funds response aimed at providing support to public institution and vulnerable communities.
He said 9,600 families from Kano would benefit from cash transfer while 2,500 Small and medium scale enterprise and startups would be funded for business continuity under the programme.
Yahaya added that $1.2 equivalent to N457 million would be disbursed in the unconditional cash transfer programme in Kano.
The Senior Special Assistant to the president on Sustainable Development Goals, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, who spoke via Skype, said that the government is implementing initiatives that ameliorate the plights of the citizens and businesses.
She also commended the efforts of the Federal government, Kano state and UNDP, WFP for containing the effects of the pandemic.
