NEWS
Disbursement of FG’s Cash Transfer Commences for 25,000 Abia Beneficiaries
The Abia Government has commenced the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Cash Transfer (RHCT) for 25,000 poor and vulnerable persons from the 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.The Programme Manager in charge of the disbursement in Abia, Mrs Adanna Oke, told newsmen in Umuahia, that the disbursement of the fund started on Tuesday at the Umuahia Township Stadium.
She said that no fewer than 800 beneficiaries from Isiala Ngwa North LGA received their debit cards for cash withdrawal on the first day. She said that beneficiaries from Isialangwa Ngwa North, Umuahia North and Aba South LGAs had so far received theirs, adding that the disbursement was programmed to last for two weeks.She also said that the beneficiaries would cash the first two tranches at once after getting their cards and use the same card to withdraw the third tranche in their communities.Oke described the programme as a Federal Government’s initative, in collaboration with the World Bank and State Governments.She said, “This programme is called Renewed Hope Cash Transfer. It used to be House Hold Uplifting Programme.“It is a programme where we supervise the disbursement of stipends to the beneficiaries across the state.“It is going on simultaneously across the country, but we are responsible for beneficiaries in Abia.”According to her, the list of the beneficiaries was compiled from a social register from National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO), Abuja.“We have the social register, where the names of beneficiaries were sent from NCTO, Abuja to the states.“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.“The data helps the World Bank to decide if a person is actually poor and vulnerable or not,” Oke also said.She commended Gov. Alex Otti for supporting the programme and assisting Abia indigenes to get their fair share of the RHCT.“We are grateful for the gift of good governance and we can only pray to God to strengthen the governor.“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 National Social Investment Programme in the state, for their support”.Also speaking in an interview, the commissioner urged the beneficiaries to invest their stipends in businesses that would improve their livelihoods.“I came to actually meet with the beneficiaries, where they are receiving their money to improve their livelihoods.“All of them have a debit card assigned to them by the Federal Government under the Renewed Hope Initative.“I’m very happy to see the large turn out 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.“It is a three tranche programme. This is the first two tranches.“There will be another one before another set of beneficiaries will be selected,” Felix said.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. (NAN)
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike has directed government hospitals to provide free treatment to the people that sustained injuries during a stampede at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja.Wike gave the directive in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Mr Lere Olayinka, in Abuja on Saturday.
No fewer than 10 people including children lost their lives while 10 others sustained injuries to the stampede, during the distribution of food items to less privileged and the elderly by the church. The sad incident occurred around 6:30 a.m on Saturday.Wike said that the FCT Administration would ensure that the injured received adequate medical attention.The minister, who commiserated with the victims, also directed that henceforth, police permission should be obtained by individuals or organizations planning public distribution of palliatives, either food items or cash.Describing the incident as “painful”, Wike prayed for the repose of the souls of the lives that were lost and fortitude for their families to bear the irreparable loss.He commended the Police and other security agencies for their prompt intervention, saying, “the promptness in which security agencies responded to the incident was commendable.”In a related development, the FCT Emergency Management Department (FEMD), equally commiserated with the victims of the stampede.The acting Director General of the department, Mr Abdulrahman Mohammed, in a statement said that nine out of the 10 injured persons earlier taken to Maitama District Hospital, have been treated and discharged.Mohammed also appealed to organisations that intended to give out food items to the less privileged to involve security agencies or FEMD for adequate planning to ensure safety of beneficiaries.He also advised the use of coupons and segregation of the beneficiaries into groups to avoid crowd and rowdiness that could lead to stampedes.Similarly, the Police Command in the FCT has ordered organisations, religious bodies, groups, or individuals to notify the police when planning public events, charitable activities, or large gatherings in the territory.In a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer in the FCT, SP Josephine Adeh, said that the notification was to enable the police to deploy adequate security measures for public safety.According to her, failure to comply with the directive will result in the organisers being held liable for any incident or loss of life resulting from negligenceMeanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force has issued a warning against the unorganised distribution of palliatives and funfairs, which have led to stampedes and fatalities among vulnerable citizens.The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, gave the warning during a media briefing on Saturday in Abuja.Adejobi explained that the warning came in response to the increasing number of stampedes resulting in injuries and deaths, particularly during palliative distributions. (NAN)
The Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), says it has recorded a lot of successes in military training and academic activities in 2024.
The Commandant of NDA, Maj.-Gen. John Ochai, said this at the Nigerian Defence Academy Social Activities (NDASA), held at the headquarters of the academy Afaka on Friday in Kaduna.
Ochai said the essence of NDASA was to end training activities of the year.
He said the 2024 NDASA was unique because the academy marked 60 years of existence from 1964-2024.
Also of significance, Ochai said, NDA had passed out the largest number of officers commissioned into the Armed Forces of Nigeria in 2024.
Equally, he said, in the same year (2024), the academy had the largest number of officers trained outside the country.
He emphasised that the NDA does not only train leaders for the Nigerian Armed Forces, but those for the Nigerian nation and humanity at large.
“After five years of training, we imbibe in officers leadership qualities that are everlasting.
”The traditions, ethos, characters that we instill in our cadets follow them forever and become very useful in all spheres of human endeavors,” Ochai said.
Mr Martins Amaram, Country Security Manager, Nigeria Breweries, PLC , who was the Special Guest of Honour, said the event fostered unity, cultural awareness and comradeship among the cadets and the larger community.
Amaram said, “The academy has always been a beacon of excellence in producing military leaders for integrity, resilience and capacity to face in a dynamic and complex world .
“Beyond academics and military training the academy still values cultural respect and social engagement, recognising the diversity of our great country. Nigeria.”
He commended NDA for creating the platform where cadets can appreciate the rich cultures and build bonds that transit borders.
Amaram added, “The Armed Forces of Nigeria are playing a critical role in ensuring the stability and progress of our nation. “
He urged the academy to continue to record more successes in its mission of excellence and service to the nation.
Report says that awards were given to deserving soldiers who distinguished themselves in 2024.
report says that 22 soldiers were decorated from Warrant Officer(WO) to Master Warrant Officers(MWO). (NAN)
A Corps member serving in Katsina State, Blessing Ene-Ameh, has distributed free delivery kits to 50 pregnant women in Mani town, Mani Local Government Area of the state
The corps member distributed the delivery kits to the expectant mothers in Mani on Friday as part of her personal Community Development Service (CDS)project.
Eneh-Ameh said that she visited a hospital in the area during one of her group CDS programmes and observed that the hygiene of women in the antenatal and children’s wards was not too good.
The corps member also stated that she had noticed that the turn up of pregnant women for antenatal care was very low.
She said, ”This attracted my attention to the need to educate pregnant women on its importance.
“There is also the need for them to keep themselves and their surroundings very neat to avoid infections for themselves and their babies.
“The aim was also to educate them on the importance of planning for the future of the baby.
”They also need to be staying clean to reduce the risk of contracting infections and other diseases by both the mothers and children, as well as the community in general.
“The training will empower the women to be able to handle and bring up children for the family,” Eneh-Ameh explained.
The NYSC Coordinator in the state, Alhaji Sa’idu Ibrahim, commended the corps member for her ingenuity and magnanimity to carry out the project.
Represented by the Local Government Inspector, Alhaji Abdulrazak Ismail-Tsiga, the coordinator urged the corps members serving in the state and other parts of the country to emulate her. (NAN)
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