Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development says no fewer that 15.5 million Nigerians have been captured in the National Social Register.
Farouq stated this on Monday in Abuja at a ministerial press briefing to intimate the general public on the achievements of the Ministry for the past one year.
She said of the 15.5 million, over 2.8 million of the households which comprise of 13.5 million Individuals are eligible for Conditional Cash Transfer.
“This numbers are spread across the 36 states and FCT. The numbers are further broken down to 7.6 million males and 7.9 million females.
“In line with Mr. President’s directive to expand the National Social Register, we have developed a strategy for targeting the urban poor.
“This register will use existing database from the National Communication Commission and the Bank Verification Number from Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System.
“Here we are collaborating with the Central Bank of Nigeria, and the Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy,” Farouq said.
However, the Minister highlighted the achievements of the Ministry for the past one year.
She explained that the Ministry was able to bring out policies on humanitarian affairs, civil security operation system and many others that were yielding results in addressing humanitarian crisis.
Farouq also said the Ministry has been collaborating with World Food Programme, and other International Non Governmental Organisation in the North East region of the country.
She said Agencies under the Ministry include National Emergency Management Agency, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons.
Others are North East Development Commission, National Agency for Prohibition and Trafficking in Persons,
National Commission for Persons with Disabilities and Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals
“These Agencies have done well in the past one year.
” The National Social Investment Programmes which have Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, Conditional Cash Transfer, Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme and N-Power are still on course.
“These programmes are being implemented nationwide, and we are committed to ensuring that the poor and vulnerable are given a sense of inclusion.
“Also, we shall continue to ensure that the vision of President Muhammadu Buhari of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty is achieved,” Farouq said.