President Buhari increases households on social register by a million

* Expresses satisfaction with coronavirus guidelines compliance level
* Extends lockdown by 14 Days

President Muhammadu Buhari has announced additional 1 million households to the National Social Register (NSR) up from 2.6 million households to cushion the effect of the impact of the coronavirus.

President Buhari said this in a second nationwide broadcast on Monday. He said the addition should be done in the next two weeks.

He said a technical committee will submit a report on the development to him “by the end of this week.”

“I have also directed that the current social register be expanded from 2.6 million households to 3.6 million households in the next two weeks,” Buhari said. “This means we will support an additional one million homes with our social investment programs.”

“A technical committee is working on this and will submit a report to me by the end of this week,” he explained.

President Buhari expresses satisfaction with coronavirus guidelines compliance level

According to a 2018 report by the World Bank, almost half the Nigerian population is living below the international poverty line ($2 per day), and unemployment peaked at 23.1 per cent.

The NSR is an initiative under the National Safety Net coordinating office, NASSCO in collaboration with the Youth Employment and Support Operation (YESSO), a World Bank assisted programme.

The scheme identifies the poorest households in given communities. After identification, their details are uploaded into the NSR, after which the National Cash Transfer Office (NCTO) then pays the beneficiaries.

President Muhammadu Buhari added that the level of compliance to the COVID-19 guidelines issued has been generally good across the country.

President Buhari also thanked Nigerians “for the great sacrifice you are making for each other at this critical time.”

He specifically recognised what he called the massive support from traditional rulers, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) during this pandemic.

He also acknowledged the support and contributions received from public spirited individuals, the business community and international partners.

“I must also thank the media houses, celebrities and other public figures for the great work they are doing in sensitizing our citizens on hygienic practices, social distancing and issues associated with social gatherings”, he added.

President Buhari ordered the extension of the lockdown by another 14-days in Lagos, Abuja and Ogun State as efforts to curtail the spread of the coronavirus.

Recall that the first lockdown was meant to end by Monday night.