The Ebonyi State Government, in collaboration with the Federal Government, has commenced the distribution of over 35,000 credit cards to vulnerable residents under the Social Investment Programme, in a move aimed at cushioning economic hardship and boosting grassroots livelihoods.
The Commissioner for Human Capital Development and Monitoring, Chief Mrs. Ann Aligwe, disclosed this on Tuesday at the Women Development Centre, Abakaliki, during the flag-off of the distribution exercise.
Aligwe, who also serves as the State Focal Person for the programme, said the initiative was being implemented in partnership with the Federal Government under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and with the support of Ebonyi State Governor, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru.
She explained that the programme targets 35,000 beneficiaries across the state’s 13 local government areas, with distribution structured to ensure orderly and inclusive access.
“Today, we are commencing with Afikpo Local Government Area, where not less than 4,500 beneficiaries are expected to receive their cards over a two-day period. The exercise is designed to run local government by local government and ward by ward to ensure that every verified beneficiary receives their entitlement,” she said.
According to her, each beneficiary is entitled to financial support across three payment cycles, with some already credited fully and others partially.
“Some beneficiaries have already been credited with the full three cycles and will receive nothing less than ₦70,000, while others are on two cycles. However, before the end of the programme, all beneficiaries will receive the complete three cycles,” she stated.
The commissioner emphasized that strict verification protocols have been put in place to ensure transparency and eliminate duplication, noting that beneficiaries must present valid National Identification Number (NIN) and Bank Verification Number (BVN) details before receiving their cards.
She added that officials from the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs were on ground with activation devices to authenticate beneficiaries in real time.
“In Ebonyi State, we have cases of similar names, so the NIN and BVN serve as unique identifiers to ensure that only the rightful beneficiaries receive the cards,” Aligwe said.
She further explained that once the cards are activated, beneficiaries can immediately access their funds through any Point-of-Sale (POS) terminal.
The exercise, which began on April 28, is expected to continue until May 24, 2026, to allow adequate time for verification and distribution across all local government areas.
Aligwe commended the state government’s commitment to social welfare, describing the intervention as part of the administration’s broader “People’s Charter of Needs” policy framework.
She also acknowledged the contributions of the First Lady of Ebonyi State and the Deputy Governor, Princess Patricia Onyemaechi Obila, for their support in advancing the programme.
Providing operational insights, the Team Lead of the programme from Abuja, Michael Oluwasegun, said the process had been smooth and efficient.
“The process is not difficult. We are experienced in this and are here to assist all beneficiaries. Within five to ten minutes after activation, beneficiaries can access their funds seamlessly,” he said, adding that no major challenges had been encountered.
Some beneficiaries, including Precious Otu and Chinwe Ekuma, among others who spoke at the event, expressed appreciation to the government for the intervention. They described their selection as a privilege and expressed gratitude to both the state and federal governments.
Our correspondent gathered that the Social Investment Programme is part of ongoing efforts by the Federal Government to alleviate poverty and stimulate economic activity among vulnerable populations, particularly at the grassroots level.
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