Olamide Francis
The World Food Programme (WFP) has kick started a campaign aimed at lifting 50,000 vulnerable residents of the Federal Capital Territory out of poverty, Nature News gathered.
This disclosure was made by the Country Director, World Food Programme, Paul Howe, during the flag off of the cash and food distribution programme across the six area councils in the FCT.
Howe told journalists after the symbolic presentation of food and cash to some households in the community, that the programme is targeted at alleviating the condition of 50,000 vulnerable people across the FCT.
While lamenting the deplorable living condition of targeted beneficiaries occasioned by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Howe disclosed that $1million has been budgeted for the programme in the FCT alone.
According to Howe, “cash transfer stimulates trade and economy. All the people registered and identified as vulnerable will go into our national social registry, so that they can be included for the distribution in the future.
“We will enroll people who don’t have bank accounts for this initiative, to enable the programme transfer money to them.”
The director disclosed that the World Food Programme targets 50,000 households with food and cash in AMAC, Bwari, Kwali, and Gwagwalada Area Councils.
Commending the efforts of the WFP and the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development for bringing succour to the less privileged people of the FCT, king of Garki, Usman Ngakupi, appealed for investments in communities in order to create jobs for the youths.
The food items distributed include bags of rice, millet, guinea corn as well as cash donation to each of the households.