Poverty alleviation scheme captured 2m Nigerians last year, okays N250b for 2023

About two million vulnerable Nigerians nationwide were impacted by projects implemented under the Federal Government’s National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS) for 2022.

A progress report presented at the NPRGS Steering Committee meeting, chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, made the disclosure, adding that some 1.6 million smallholder farmers also benefitted under the Agriculture for Jobs Plan.

Besides, 13,000 youths have been trained under a Technical and Vocational Education and Training programme in six states, comprising Lagos, Ogun, Enugu, Gombe, Kaduna and Nasarawa, while arrangements are underway to provide similar training for 2,000 beneficiaries in Edo State.

Equally, more than 8,000 Nigerians were employed in construction under the Rural Roads Programme, which built 40 rural roads in 120 communities, covering about 57.3 kilometres across the federation.

The NPRGS implementation monitoring update presented by Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba, reads: “Following release of N50 billion, programmes that have achieved 100 per cent completion include: Agriculture for Food and Jobs Plan (AFJP) and construction of rural roads.

“A total number of direct beneficiaries of the implemented programmes currently stands at 1,818,782 vulnerable Nigerians and a total of 9,527 Nigerians have also been directly employed through implementation of the programmes so far.”

Additionally, at the meeting, the committee approved N250 billion for execution of projects in 2023.

Addressing reporters at the end of the meeting in Abuja, Governor Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, who co-chairs the Steering Committee, said though implementation had not reached expected level, efforts are ongoing to touch each of the targeted 15 areas.

“Today, we just came to review implementation and update on spending so far and approval for this year’s projects.

“Based on what was received from co-chair of the Technical Working Group, over N50 billion has been spent so far. The performance so far hasn’t reached the level we expected. But nearly every aspect of the 15 areas targeted is being implemented in one way or the other.”

He explained that the over N50 billion of the N400 billion approved by President Muhammadu Buhari for the committee to reduce poverty and enhance growth in the country was expended by the Federal Government and states.

Other members of the steering committee present are Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mohammad Abubakar; Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire and his Labour and Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige, participated virtually.

Permanent Secretary, Budget and National Planning, Nebeolisa Anako and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Andrew Adejo, who represented the Minister of Education, also attended the meeting.