The Nasarawa State government says it has captured 1.9 million poor and vulnerable residents across the state in its social register for various intervention programmes.

Muhammad Baba-Shehu, the commissioner for humanitarian affairs, non-governmental organisations and disaster management in the state, disclosed this on Saturday in Lafia.

Mr Baba-Shehu spoke at an event organised to commemorate the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

The commissioner explained that the register was the database the Governor Abdullahi Sule-led administration had relied on to provide palliatives and other support since its inception in 2019.

Mr Baba-Shehu further said that the government, through the Nasarawa State Social Investment Agency, had implemented the cash transfer programme in two phases.

He added that the third phase would soon commence.

“3,800 vulnerable persons across the 147 electoral wards of the state received N5,000 each for 24 months.

“6,000 other vulnerable persons received N10,000 for 24 months for the first and second phases of the programme which ended in 2025,” he said.

He further explained that under the NG-CARES programme, implemented by the same agency, 1,500 petty and small-scale traders received grants of N50,000 each, adding that 2,000 others collected N10,000 each for 12 months.

The commissioner further said that the administration had also distributed electric vehicles and tricycles to youths and women for commercial purposes, aimed at improving their livelihoods.

“We paid NECO registration for final year students in public schools, subsidised fertilisers and provided scholarships to students to reduce hardship, among others,” Mr Baba-Shehu added.

The commissioner also noted that the government had recently offered humanitarian support to residents of Kowayarda community in Karshi, Karu Local Government Area (LGA), who were affected by a communal clash.

“We have taken the assessment of the 11 flooded communities in Ekye, Keana LGA, for intervention to cushion the effects of the disaster and help them start life again,” he explained.

The commissioner, who assured Nasarawa residents of the government’s commitment to their welfare, promised regular support for vulnerable groups in the state.

The 2026 International Day for the Eradication of Poverty had the theme “Safe Homes for All”. 

(NAN)