The Executive Chairman of Igalamela Local Government, Cosmos Itabo, has raised concerns over the effectiveness of social intervention programs in Nigeria, stressing that poverty remains widespread despite government efforts.
He made the statement at the Kogi state summit on Social Protection organized by the ACT NAIJA PROJECT, in Lokoja the state Capital.
According to him, the removal of subsidies and the volatile naira-dollar exchange rate have pushed the cost of living to alarming levels, leaving more than 75 percent of citizens at the grassroots struggling to survive—far above the officially reported 40 percent poverty rate.
He acknowledged that both President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration and the Kogi State Government have increased palliative measures and social protection schemes. However, he warned that many of these benefits are often hijacked before reaching the most vulnerable.
” We realize that the government of Nigeria under. President Tinubu has increased social interventions through the palliative in his regime, the Governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo.”
Itabo emphasized the real challenge is not the absence of interventions but ensuring proper implementation to get to the true valnurables.
“What we want is better implementation mechanisms to be put in place.”
“We want a situation where the vulnerable those that truly need it get it.”
While giving his goodwill message at the event the chairman called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to pass and enforce the Social Protection Law, ensuring a transparent and robust mechanism that delivers relief directly to the people who need it most.
