We’ve spent $5billion fighting poverty: FG

The federal government says it has spent five billion dollars in the fight against poverty in the country.

Minister Sadiya Farouq stated this during the presentation of letters of engagement and electronic tablets to 248 monitors of the National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) in Adamawa State over the weekend.

The Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development boss said the NSIP began in 2016 with the President Muhammadu Buhari administration providing a billion dollars each year for the scheme as part of its commitment to lift 100million Nigerians out of poverty.

Mr Buhari’s recent claim of lifting over 10 million Nigerians out of poverty has been adjudged as false by Dubawa, an indigenous fact-checking platform.

I am happy to report to you that every year since 2016, when NSIP was flagged off, Mr President has approved that $1bn be invested into that sector every year (which aggregated is over $5bn,” the minister said.

“This is part of the measures the President has taken to fulfill his promise of bringing 100 million Nigerians out of poverty,” she added.