Conditional Cash Transfer Payments Resume In Abia State

The Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Cash Transfer for 25,000 poor and vulnerable persons from the 17 Local Government Areas of the state has recommenced in Abia State.

The pilot exercise was held in Umuahia Townships Stadium and Isiala Ngwa North on Tuesday, October 29th and would benefit beneficiaries across the 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Abia State.

The Programme Manager in charge of the disbursement in Abia State, Adanna Oke, made this known to newsmen stating that no fewer than 800 beneficiaries from Isiala Ngwa North LGA received their debit cards for cash withdrawal on the first day.
Beneficiaries received two-off payments. Participants were issued debit cards for seamless transactions.

She added that beneficiaries from Isiala Ngwa Ngwa North, Umuahia North and Aba South LGAs had so far received theirs, adding that the disbursement was programmed to last for two weeks.

Oke noted that the programme is a Federal Government’s initiative in collaboration with the World Bank and State Governments.


“It is a programme where we supervise the disbursement of stipends to the beneficiaries across the state.”

She stated that the program is going on simultaneously across the country.
According to Oke, the list of the beneficiaries was compiled from a social register from the National Cash Transfer Office in Abuja.
“The NCTO is responsible for generating the names.
It also has a State Operating and Coordinating Unit that is responsible for going into the communities to collect relevant data.
The information they gathered from people will determine the category the respondents will be placed in.
The data helps the World Bank to decide if a person is actually poor and vulnerable or not”, she added.

Oke commended Governor Alex Otti of Abia State for supporting the programme and assisting indigenes to get their fair share of the RHCT.

“We also thank him for all the support we are getting at the state Cash Transfer Unit.
We also thank the Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Mrs. Blessing Felix, and Special Adviser to the Governor on Policy and Intervention, Rev. Fr. Christian Anokwuru, who is also the Focal Person for the National Social Investment Programme in the state, for their support.”

Also speaking in an interview with newsmen, the Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection, Mrs. Blessing Felix, urged the beneficiaries to invest their stipends in businesses that would improve their livelihoods.

Felix said, “I came to actually meet with the beneficiaries, where they are receiving their money to improve their livelihoods.
I’m very happy to see the large turnout of people today to receive their cards.
It is hoped that the money will provide a lot of support to the beneficiaries, who need financial assistance.”

Some of the beneficiaries, including Blessing Alozie and Monica Mba, who confirmed the receipt of their debit cards, appreciated the Federal Government’s kind gesture and promised to invest the fund in their petty businesses.

Also present at the event is the State NSIP independent monitor Obisike Felix.