By Akpan David, Calabar
The Cross River State government has clarified that its N900 million social investment programme, through which vulnerable residents are receiving N50,000 each, is a state-funded initiative distinct from the Federal Government’s social intervention schemes and an online offer allegedly linked to OPay.
The State Coordinator of the programme, Dr Edem Okokon Effiong, made the clarification during a press conference, warning residents against confusing the state government’s cash transfers with what he described as a fraudulent OPay-related offer circulating on social media.
Effiong said the intervention was initiated by the administration of Governor Bassey Otu and had disbursed more than N900 million to vulnerable residents within five months of implementation.
He disclosed that beneficiaries had started receiving N50,000 each under the conditional cash transfer component, while another category of beneficiaries would receive start-up grants to establish or expand small businesses.
According to him, the programme targets vulnerable residents across the state’s 196 wards, with plans to identify 100 beneficiaries per ward for cash transfers and another 50 for business start-up support.
He said beneficiaries were identified through different social groups, including churches, traditional institutions, women’s organisations and youth groups, which were asked to nominate their most vulnerable members.
The coordinator said the approach was intended to ensure inclusiveness and prevent the intervention from being restricted to particular communities or social groups.
He, however, acknowledged that some beneficiaries were experiencing delays in receiving payments because of discrepancies in bank account details, bank verification numbers (BVN) and other verification issues, adding that efforts were being made to resolve them.
Effiong urged residents to disregard the alleged OPay-related offer, stressing that the N50,000 payments already being received by beneficiaries were from the Cross River State Government and not the Federal Government or any private financial platform.
He also called on the media and residents to monitor the programme and demand accountability to prevent corruption and ensure its sustainability, describing the intervention as an investment in the people rather than an act of charity
