26.8M Extremely Poor Nigerians Have Already Been Captured – FG

A total of 26.8 million extremely poor Nigerians have so far been captured in the national social register of the National Social Investment Programme, the Federal Government has said.

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq recently revealed this in Abuja, and Nigerians have been reacting.

According to him, the number is out of the estimated 82.9 million extremely poor people in the country, and the captured number was equivalent to about 6.3 million households.

He added that the 26.8 million has coverage across the 36 States of the Federation and the FCT in 601 LGAs out of the 774 LGAs in Nigeria.

His words, “As of 31st January 2021, out of the estimated 82.9 million (40.2 percent) Nigerians living below the poverty line, we have identified and registered 26.8 million poor and vulnerable individuals, equivalent to about 6.3 million households in our country.”

“We are expecting another 20 million to be added to the database and held in the Rapid Response Register – a shock responsive intervention register, specifically targeted at urban informal workers impacted by the current COVID-19 pandemic. This database capacity is unprecedented in the history of our dear country.”

“I am therefore pleased to announce and reiterate that the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development now has the database that could provide evidence for impact tracing for most social development projects in Nigeria.”

“I am therefore pleased to announce and reiterate that the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development now has the database that could provide evidence for impact tracing for most social development projects in Nigeria.”

“We therefore welcome all MDAs and partners, to utilise the database of the poor and vulnerable Nigerians to support any effort that contributes to lifting people out of poverty.”