‘Kaduna has benefited over N13.5b from FG’s investment programme’

Minister of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, at the weekend disclosed that Kaduna State had benefited over N13.5 billion since inception of the Federal Government’s National Social Investment Programme (NSIP).

Ahmed said this at the Federal College of Education, Zaria, during the disbursement of empowerment funds to women of Zone 1 of Kaduna State.

In a statement signed by her Special Adviser on Media and Communications, Mr. Paul Ella Abechi, the minister, who acknowledged that there is still more grounds to be covered, reiterated Federal Government’s commitment to the programme.

She said: “The Federal Government through the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) has since inception begun implementing a number of programmes targeted at improving the lives of Nigerians, especially the poor and vulnerable members of our society. Kaduna State fortunately is a beneficiary of all the interventions that make up the NSIP with investment exceeding N13.5 billion.

“There are over 18,000 N-Power volunteers in Kaduna State in addition to 585 Npower build trainees. For these beneficiaries, we have expended over N4 billion. The National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme has so far reached over one million pupils in about 4,000 schools and has created a sustainable means of livelihood for the over 12,000 women engaged as cooks under the programme. On this programme in Kaduna State alone, we have spent over N8 billion.

“Another component of the NSIP, the Government Enterprise & Empowerment Programme (GEEP), has given about N1 billion to almost 20,000 beneficiaries. The poorest of the poor have begun benefitting from the National Cash Transfer Programme. In Kaduna State, 10,482 persons have benefitted from a total of N314 million.”

She, however, urged the beneficiaries to ensure judicious use of the funds accessed to ensure prompt payment, and development of their businesses to the next level.