Nigerians Applaud President Tinubu as Minister disburses ₦20,000 grants

The celebration of Christmas took a different turn in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, southern Nigeria as excited citizens announced the receipt of twenty-thousand-naira (₦20,000.00) grants.

The Nigerians, mostly of whom were vulnerable people including some widows, could not hide their joy over the bank alert received right after the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu in company of the wife of the governor, Reverend Eyoanwan Otu and Governor Bassey Otu flagged off the disbursement.

Some of the beneficiaries prayed God to bless Nigerian President Bola Tinubu for the initiative and commended Dr. Edu for implementing the scheme.

Madam Patricia Bassey said, “this kind of thing that I have seen has made my Christmas sweet. When I came, I just thought it was just a party, but it is not only a Christmas party but a big present, which will help my family. May God bless our President Tinubu and our dear daughter, Betta Edu and our Sweet Prince and his wife.”

Another beneficiary, Ma Rita Asuquo said, “this is real, I just received my alert of ₦20,000.00 and it will help my water leaf business especially as the rain has stopped, the ground is dry, I need new water leaf sticks to plant and this will help me very well. I thank our President and his wife. I also thank our beautiful minister, our sister Betta Edu and our Governor’s wife. God will bless and keep them for us.”

Yet another man, Mr. Vincent Michael, who spoke in Efik language said, “the President has done well for me and my family. Our beautiful sister, the Minister to come and launch this grant here first is good. I am grateful to them including our Sweet Prince Otu and his wife. I have a small provision stand in my compound and this will help me buy additional things for my business.”

A known food vendor simply called “Mma Udia” around the Diamond Street axis was one of the beneficiaries and said, “I am happy to get this morning. I used to sometimes buy money to put in my business. But I prefer this grant because I can add more things and have more customers to grow my business. I wish Betta Edu, our fine sister, President Tinubu and his wife as well as Governor Otu and his wife a very merry Christmas too.”

Prior to the flag off, the Minister said that the Nigerian Government’s grant to vulnerable groups in Cross River State was the Renewed Hope Initiative of President Tinubu to lift 50 million Nigerians out of poverty by 2030.

Edu stated, “our aim is to see that the people of Cross River State, who are living below the poverty lines will be pulled out of poverty. The President has promised that 50 million Nigerians will be pulled out of poverty. It is an ambitious task, but we are equal to the task.”

While listing out the different Nigerian Government programmes within the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, she urged the people to enroll for any programme of their choice to reap the benefits.

Also speaking before performing the ceremonial flag off, Governor Otu said, “the government of President Bola Tinubu and his wife has done so much to this sector of people than any other government. Our mandate is People’s First mandate and the people are those in this pocket of vulnerability. So, our agenda is synced with ‘Renewed Hope’, which is to take 50 million people out of poverty and I know that he is going to achieve it.”

High point of the ceremony was the presentations of cheques to some beneficiaries in Calabar.