By Lanre Oloyede
In a significant move to support vulnerable citizens, the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, in partnership with the Nigerian Red Cross Society, has distributed multi-purpose cash grants to persons with disabilities affected by recent flooding in Maiduguri.
The event, held on Monday, 6th October 2025, at the Nigerian Red Cross Headquarters in Maiduguri, provided direct financial assistance to individuals across various disability clusters, including the physically challenged, visually impaired, hearing impaired, persons with albinism, and persons affected by leprosy. Each beneficiary received a cash transfer of N100,000 to aid in recovering their livelihoods with dignity.
In his address, the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Hon. Mohammed Abba Isa, underscored the initiative’s alignment with the administration’s core principles.
“This intervention is a direct reflection of the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, which is built on the pillars of inclusion, empowerment, and social protection for all citizens, leaving no one behind,” Hon. Isa stated.
He commended the President for his steadfast commitment to inclusive policies that prioritize persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
The SSA also lauded the collaborative efforts that made the program a success. He praised Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, for his “unwavering commitment to the welfare and empowerment of persons with disabilities across the state,” and recognized the Nigerian Red Cross Society for its sustained humanitarian efforts.
“I applaud the Secretary General of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Alhaji Abubakar Ahmed Kende, for his exemplary leadership and our partners on the ground. Together, we are advancing inclusion and upholding human dignity, ensuring that persons with disabilities are central to our humanitarian response,” Hon. Mohammed Abba Isa added.
The event was graced by Dr. Bulama Mali Gubio, Branch Chairman of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Borno State, whose presence underscored the local commitment to the cause. Also in attendance were representatives from the Borno State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, officials from the Red Cross, and leadership from the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) in Borno State.
The program reaffirms the federal government’s dedication to ensuring that persons with disabilities are active participants in and beneficiaries of the nation’s development and humanitarian programs.
