FG Spent N4trn Fighting Poverty In Five Years, Minister Reveals

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Mrs. Hajia Sadiya Farouq, has disclosed that the Federal Government has spent over $5billion (N4 trillion) to combat poverty in the country.

The minister noted the total sum of $5bn (N4trn) was spent from the period of 2016 to 2020.

According to the official exchange rate of Monday, the money spent might be equivalent to N4 trillion.

Speaking further, she disclosed that the fund was spent as part of the promises of President Muhammadu Buhari to lift 100 million Nigerians from poverty.

Recall that Buhari during his democracy speech on June 12 had said his administration has been able to pull 10 million Nigerians out of poverty, while assuring that the target is to lift 100 million Nigerians through various poverty alleviation schemes.

In her explanation, the minister stated that the Federal Government has been committing $1bn to the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP), as part of the fight to reduce poverty and inequality.

The National Coordinator of NSIP, Dr Umar Bindir, who represented the minister, made this known during a presentation of letters of engagement and electronic tablets to 248 monitors of the NSIP programme in Adamawa.