FG Begins Profiling of Vulnerable Persons in Zamfara, Targets 400 for ₦10,000 Support

FG Begins Profiling of Vulnerable Persons in Zamfara, Targets 400 for ₦10,000 Suppor

The Federal Government has commenced the profiling and verification of vulnerable persons in Zamfara State, with about 400 pre-identified individuals expected to receive ₦10,000 each as immediate support.

The exercise, being implemented by the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA) under its Grant for Vulnerable Groups (GVG) Programme, is designed to establish a verified database to ensure social protection interventions reach people who genuinely need assistance.

The National Programme Manager of the GVG, Hajiya Ashiat Alubankudi, announced the initiative during a courtesy visit to Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal, in Gusau.

Alubankudi said the profiling would cover selected communities, wards and internally displaced persons’ camps across the state.

She explained that the exercise was not merely about collecting names but establishing reliable information on vulnerable people and their circumstances to guide the delivery of government support.

“We are not here simply to collect names. We want to establish a credible and verified database of vulnerable persons, understand their circumstances and ensure that the intervention is based on genuine need,” she said.

According to her, the immediate cash assistance would be followed by a broader empowerment phase involving the distribution of livelihood and economic-strengthening items, subject to the necessary approvals.

She said the programme was designed to help beneficiaries improve their livelihoods, build economic resilience and become self-reliant rather than depend solely on temporary assistance.

Also speaking, the Zamfara State Programme Manager of the Grant for Vulnerable Groups, Hauwa’u Barau Suleiman, said the state government was working to develop the initiative into a sustainable social protection programme.

She said the programme would target vulnerable women, youths, persons with disabilities, older people and households affected by conflict, while integrating skills development and economic inclusion.

In his response, Governor Lawal welcomed the initiative and pledged his administration’s support for its implementation.

The governor described credible data as essential to effective development planning, noting that governments could not adequately identify needs or deliver meaningful interventions without reliable information.

He also emphasised the need for transparency and accountability, insisting that the exercise must benefit the people it was designed to serve.

Lawal warned against any practice that could exclude genuinely vulnerable persons from the programme and called for accountability at every stage of implementation.

He assured NSIPA of the state government’s collaboration, alongside local government authorities, traditional institutions and community leaders, to ensure the successful execution of the exercise.