The Federal Government on Monday flagged-off the N20,000 grants for vulnerable groups in Cross River.
Flagging-off the initiative, Gov. Bassey Otu of Cross River, said in his life, he had never seen a government so magnanimous as the administration of Pres. Bola Tinubu.
Otu said Tinubu had declared that he wants to take 50 million Nigerians below poverty line out of that group by 2030 which is a very audacious move because no government had ever done that.
“Many people said the president is not a Christian but today, we know better as he has decided to make the Christmas celebration more joyful for the people.
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“With the way the government speaks to the economics of the nation, it means the future of the nation is secured.
“For Cross River, we are looking into all key sectors from Agriculture, security and tourism and in no distant time the state will be a toast of all the other states in the nation, he said.
He appealed to residents of the states who are physically challenged noting that his administration would not segregate them as they have a separate commission to handle their issues.
Speaking also, Dr. Betta Edu, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, said the event was symbolic as it was a flag-off of the renewed hope agenda of the president in Cross River.
Edu said the president was closely working with the governor of Cross River to move residents of Cross River who were living below poverty line out of poverty.
“While the Federal Government has so many initiatives such as the farmer money, trader money, conditional cash transfer in which 3.5 million Nigerians have benefitted across board.
“We also have the end hunger programme that will be launched in January, the skill acquisition programme among others; all I ask for at the state level, is for the state to key fully to the centre,” she said.
She appealed to residents of Cross River to support the governor of the state to enable him effectively continue from where the previous administration in the state stopped.
On her part, Mrs Eyoanwan Otu, Wife of the Gov. of Cross River said the initiative would make significant impact on the lives of countless individuals in the state
While thanking the president and his wife Sen. Oluremi Tinubu and the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, she implored beneficiaries to put the grant to good use.