36 million Nigerians benefit from FG’s community, social development projects ― Minister

No fewer than 36 million Nigerians across 29 States of the federation and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have so far benefitted from various social protection programmes initiated by Federal Government over the past 11 years.

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq disclosed this during the winding down of the Community and Social Development Project (CSDP) which was launched in 2009.

According to her, over 11 million Nigerians directly benefitted from the projects and an estimated 25 million indirect benefitted from the implementation of the Social Protection Programmes of the Federal Government through the National Social Safety Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO) and now supervised by the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, during the period under review.

She noted that: “This is a development paradigm that focuses on the needs of the poor and vulnerable and empowering them with development resources to address their peculiar needs.

“Using this unique approach, the CSDP has implemented micro-projects in poor communities across the 543 Local Government Areas of 29 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The poor communities are identified specifically through the use of Poverty Maps agreed to by each participating State and FCT.

“The Project has made a substantial impact on improving access of the poor and vulnerable to social and natural resources infrastructure across the benefitting communities.”

The Minister disclosed that during its over 11-year span, CSDP successfully completed 16,166 micro-projects in 5,664 communities and 934 vulnerable groups. These micro-projects cut across eight sectors of intervention namely education, health, water, transportation, electrification, socio-economic, environment and community housing. In addition, 5,764 classrooms, 1,323 health centres and 4,442 water micro-projects were constructed and/or rehabilitated.

While applauding World Bank and the State Governments for their contribution towards the successful implementation of the programmes, Umar Farouq said: “What we are therefore celebrating today is the imminent closure of the CSDP with clear records of impacting the poor and vulnerable communities and groups across the country.”

In his remarks, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State who spoke on ‘Repositioning Nigeria for greatness and development: The imperatives of community-driven development, described CSDP as one of the most impactful development projects of the World Bank and a great legacy.

Awards were given to Minister Sadiya Umar Farouq and Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning Prince Clem Agba as Chief Promoters and Champions of Community Driven Development in Nigeria while the World Bank Country Director, Mr Shubham Chaudhuri and Professor Foluso Okunmadewa, World Bank Team Task Leader of CSDP received Lifetime Awards of Excellence in the Fight to End Poverty among the Rural Poor.

Bauchi State emerged winner of the State Agency with the highest number of completed Micro projects of 916, while Cross River State won the State Government with the highest amount of Government contribution award with a total of N1,646,835,451.71.

Best State Government on Replication of CDD using Government Resources went to Plateau State.

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President Muhammadu Buhari Friday at State House Abuja urged the MTN Group to make the available top-of-the-range service to its Nigerian subscribers…  36 million Nigerians benefit from FG’s community, social development projects  ;  36 million Nigerians benefit from FG’s community, social development projects  ;  36 million Nigerians benefit from FG’s community, social development projects  ;  36 million Nigerians benefit from FG’s community, social development projects.