COVID-19: 449,970 poor households to benefit from rapid response intervention in Kano – Official

By Mustapha Adamu, Kano

No fewer than 449,970 poor and vulnerable households will benefit from the Federal Government’s Rapid Response Intervention, under the Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP) to cushion the economic effects of COVID-19 in Kano state.
Recall that the ESP was approved by the federal government on 24th June, 2020, aimed at ensuring social stability and addressing long-standing economic vulnerabilities.
The Rapid Response Registration programme would support 3 million poor and vulnerable households across Nigeria with cash transfer to cushion the effects of the pandemic.
In a one-day sensitization meeting to create awareness for Civil Society Organizations, Non Governmental Organizations media on Rapid Response Register in Kano yesterday, Deputy Director, Research and Policy Coordination, Kano state Ministry of Planning and Budget, Rabiu Dahiru Ilyasu said the beneficiaries would be drawn from 373 communities.
He explained that the beneficiaries would be selected from seven targeted Local Government areas in the state.
Iliyasu further explained that for every identified community, bulk of SMS/USSD would be disseminated to subscribers in that area to apply for the programme, adding that each community has its unique USSD code.
“The programme is a cash transfer programme. In Kano, 449,970 are expected to benefit from the scheme.
“That is why we have launched this sensitization program so that people would key into the program and know how to apply. I therefore call on the people in the selected communities to apply,” he said.
The Deputy Director identified the selected local governments and their codes as follows;
Kumbotso ………..*969*99#, Ungogo…………..*969*100#, Dawakin Tofa……*969*101#, KMC……………….*969*102#, Tarauni…………….*969*103#,
Dala………………*969*104#
In a remark, the Advocacy Officer for the Action Against Hunger under the CGDP project, Richard Musa said the NGO has been implementing activities in a bid to eliminating hunger globally.
He said they are now implementing the second phase of the Child Grant Development Programme (CGDP), which is focusing system strengthening around social protection intervention at the state level.
“Social protection is a new concept in Nigeria, Government at all levels are just waking up in ensuring that the poor and the vulnerable are socially protected from fallen into poverty and for those that have already fallen into poverty ,to provide a way out”
Musa added that CGDP was working Asidiously in supporting stakeholders on how achieved success on the rapid response registration.