By our correspondent
A Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Social Investment Programmes(SIP), Ismaeel Ahmed, has said that plans have been embarked upon by the present administration to take over 100 million Nigerians out of extreme poverty in the next decade.
Ismaeel stated that the current administration under the leadership of Buhari had already laid the foundation for making this task possible in the last four years and thus Nigerians would see a ‘leapfrog’ in government efforts at alleviating poverty.
“The first four years of the President Buhari administration has been a tedious project of setting up a foundation for the journey ahead. That journey on our part is to see that we empower the less privileged, the poorest Nigerians, the unemployed, and provide them with hands up, giving them the opportunity to lift themselves out of their predicament and empowering them for self-development and fulfilment,”
“The President is committed to this project, and thus has set a mandate of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of extreme poverty within the next 10 years. It may sound too ambitious to some or perhaps even outlandish, but with the renewed focus and commitment I have seen from the President, this is a feat that can be achieved and we must ensure that we roll up our sleeves to do just that” Ismaeel stated.
According to him, Federal Government has set targets and will up the numbers by reaching more communities, reaching more people who are within the purview.
”Each of the clusters of the Social Investment Programmes has a target of the number of beneficiaries it must reach within a period of time giving the availability of resources. We are going to make sure that we do not falter, slow down, relax or give up. We are determined”
He explained that the President has set is serious business and would be taken with the utmost regard and consciousness,adding that the Social Investment Programmes had made a tremendous impact so far.
While stating that it was the largest social investment ever seen in Nigeria and West Africa,adding that the programmes have reached over 40 million beneficiaries so far.
That is both direct and indirect beneficiaries. Over 12 million are direct beneficiaries. These are real people whose lives are being changed and transformed for the better.Whenever I meet a beneficiary and he or she tells me their story, I am driven to do more. And I believe that if we have done this much, with the little resources, we can do more with committed leadership, and steady, strategic and precise targets,” the SSA said.
“I have a reason to believe that poverty should not be a permanent feature or an affliction that must remain with us. The goal set out by the President on lifting 100 million people out of extreme poverty is a task I am personally committed and dedicated to.” Ismaeel added.
Ismaeel also stated that the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development created by the President was a Ministry that would play a critical role in the fight against poverty.
“There is wisdom in creating the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development. It streamlines coordination and activities. It demonstrates seriousness in solving Nigeria’s poverty problems. The Ministry has been set up as a strategic arm in revamping and improving the activities of the Social Investment Programmes and all other agencies under it and carrying out the short, medium and long term goals of taking 100 million Nigerians out of extreme poverty,” he said.
