SOKOTO — 800 people in three local governments of Sokoto state have been empowered by the Nigerian Red Cross through its cash transfer progamme to address hunger and malnutrition.
The leader of the team, Mr. Gabriel Nashon while disbursing the cash, explained that under the first phase of distribution, Seven hundred beneficiaries captured for multipurpose cash grants would get N35,000 for three months and one hundred pregnant and lactating mothers considered for supplementary feeding cash grants would enjoy ten thousand for 10 months in Dange-Shuni, Sokoto South and Sokoto North Local Government Areas of the state.
He explained that the society decided to embark on the cash transfer after conducting a NEEDS assessment in some northern part of the country which indicated that 2.5 million people were facing acute hunger.
Nashon said other sets of beneficiaries are Agricultural livelihood, targeting those who are into Agricultural livelihood.
“We know that because of the challenges of insecurity many people have not been able to go back to their farming activities. We will be giving them N50,000.
“For the Sokoto State branch of Nigeria Red Cross Abubakar Sajo, the society would continue to respond to the needs of communities in times of emergency.
“This is not the first time the Society has embarked on cash transfer to support households impoverished due to challenges of insecurity, climate change, and COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
One of the beneficiaries, Maijema’a Wurin Dukku in his late 50s, is blind; he lost his sight 10 years ago.
He said before finally losing his sight, he went to Federal Medical Centre in Sokoto when his sight began to deteriorate but the doctors could not help him.
Maijema’a used to be a farmer but having lost his sight he could no longer work his farmer.
Other beneficiaries said the gesture would relieve their hardship.
Talatu Shuaibu, a widow in her mid-30s said she will use part of the money to pay her children’s school fees and start a tiger nut drink business.
Adamu Abubakar, a community leader, could not contain his joy when he was selected as a beneficiary to get N35,000 saying he will buy food for his family.
Under the first phase of the programme, A total of 5700 persons benefitted from the cash transfer programme in Niger, Benue, Nasawara, Katsina, Zamfara Kebbi, and Sokoto state.
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