The Abia State Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Mrs. Ngozi Blessing Felix, has described the National Cash Transfer Programme as the cornerstone of the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) and one of the most impactful tools for lifting households out of poverty.
Speaking at the Banquet Hall of Bishop Anthony Nwedo Pastoral Centre, Umuahia, during a High-Level Stakeholders’ Engagement and Sensitization Meeting organized by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction in collaboration with the NSIP Agency, the National Cash Transfer Office, and the State Cash Transfer Unit, Mrs. Felix noted that the programme has already made a significant difference in Abia through direct credit transfers to the poorest households.
She explained that under Governor Alex Otti’s administration, her ministry has updated and expanded the Social Investment Register through the State Operations Coordinating Unit (SOCU) to ensure no household is excluded from the programme.
According to her, the stakeholders’ engagement was convened to review progress made so far, strengthen collaboration across all levels of government, and ensure proper targeting, payment, monitoring, and sustainability of the National Social Safety Net Programme–Scale Up (NASSP-SU).
In his opening remarks, the State Focal Person on National Investment Programmes and Special Adviser to the Governor on Policies and Interventions, Rev. Fr. Christian Anokwuru, said the programme has remained a beacon of hope to millions of Nigerians, with a primary goal of empowering 15 million vulnerable citizens.
Also speaking, the State Programme Manager, Cash Transfer Unit, Mrs. Ihie-Adanna Oke, Esq., disclosed that over 15 million Nigerians have already benefitted, including hundreds of poor households in Abia. She commended the present administration’s commitment to uplifting the living standards of the less privileged.
The event was attended by mayors of the 17 local government areas, the State ALGON Chairman, Mr. Chinedu Ekeke, and other key stakeholders of the National Social Investment Programme.
