The Federal Government through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster management and Social Development has said it received 6.4 million applications for its Npower Batch C programme.
Sadiya Farouq, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, disclosed this in Abuja at the ministry open house event/inauguration of Internally Displaced Persons Policy.
She said the ministry has now enrolled 510,000 applicants while another 490,000 are expected to come on board.
Farouq said, “The ministry successfully exited the 500,000 Batches A and B N-Power beneficiaries in 2020 and received about 6.4 million applications for Batch C.
“From Batches A and B, 109,823 beneficiaries have gone on to set up businesses in their communities, underlining and highlighting the impact and importance of the N-Power programme.
“Under Batch-C stream 1 there are 510,000 currently enrolled and benefitting from the programme, while an additional 490,000 will be enrolled following presidential approval to increase the number to one million.”
Speaking on the inauguration of the National Policy on IDP, Farouq explained that the Federal Executive Council approved the policy in September 2021.
“The process of developing and adoption of the policy commenced in 2001, within this period the initial draft of the policy have been reviewed severally to reflect new realities and emerging trends in humanitarian space in Nigeria,” Farouq stated.
She added, “This policy intends to provide a framework for national responsibility towards prevention and protection of citizens and, in some cases, non-citizens, from incidences of arbitrary and other forms of internal displacement.
“It will meet their assistance and protection needs during displacement, and ensure their rehabilitation, return, reintegration and relocation after displacement.”