Over 1273 indigent Nigerians in Badagry area of Lagos State will receive N25.5 million from the Federal Government.
The payment was under the Household Uplifting Programme-Conditional Cash Transfer (HUP-CCT) of the federal government.
HUP-CCT is managed by the office of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.
Over 6,810 beneficiaries are listed to be empowered in Lagos under the project.
Speaking at the Flag-Off and Recommencement of the payment ceremony in Badagry, Mr Henry Ayede, the National Communication Officer of the project, said more than N25,460,000 would be paid to 1,273 residents of Badagry.
Ayede represented Hajiya Halim Shehu, the National Coordinator of National Cash Transfer Office.
He said that the aim of the programme was to reduce poverty and improve household consumption.
“In 2016, the Federal Government established the programme and the aim is to see how we can reduce poverty and improve household consumption.
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“It is also to ensure that beneficiaries of the programme establish sustainable source of livelihood.
“We have been paying consistently for some time but all of a sudden, we had a pause because we wanted to strengthen our process to ensure the beneficiaries receive their money as and when due.
“We are here in Badagry today and in about five local governments in Lagos to ensure beneficiaries receive their money.
“We are here to pay the backlog because we have not paid them for sometime, so for this batch, each beneficiaries will receive N20,000 covering two payment circle, then we will continue again next month,” he said.
Ayede said the six councils in Lagos benefiting from the programme were: Amuwo-Odofin, Badagry, Apapa, Ibeju-Lekki, Ele and Lagos Island.
According to him, 365 beneficiaries will receive from Amuwo-Odofin, 1273 from Badagry, 2,308 from Apapa, 1504 from Ibeju-Lekki, 989 from Epe and 371 from Lagos Island.
“Overall, it is not about the cash we pay, there is more to the programme, there is capacity building in term of saving and group mobilisation at the community just to ensure that as they receive the money they have something to put it in.
“This is to ensure that at the end of it all they will not fall back to where they use to be because the aim is not just give them the cash but to improve their livelihoods,” he said.
Mrs Lola Orimogunje, Head, Lagos State Cash Transfer Unit, said that each beneficiary would go home with N20,000 in line with the FG’s mandate of lifting millions of households from poverty.
She commended the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for its sensitivity toward the plight of the less-privileged in the society.
She said the arrangement of reaching vulnerable poor has proven successful, adding that by 2030, millions of Nigerians will be lifted out of poverty.
Mrs Yetunde Arobieke, the Lagos State Commissioner for Wealth Creation, said that another six local government areas would be captured in the coming disbursement to make it 12 councils.
According to her, the councils are Ojo, Ikorodu, Ikeja, Surulere, Kosofe and Mainland.
She said that every council in the state would soon be captured in the programme.
Arobieke commended President Buhari and Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu for being sensitive to the plight of the people in the state.
Mrs Josephine Okocha, one of the beneficiaries in Badagry, said that she would invest the money in her fish business, expressing satisfaction with President Buhari’s government for giving her hope.
Another beneficiary, a 60-year-old grandmother, Mrs Grace Avoseh, said she would remain grateful to the federal government for the kind gesture shown to her.
She promised to invest the money to generate more income to help sustain her life.