Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River, along with the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, started the process in Calabar.

Otu praised the initiative, stating that it would help reduce poverty among the vulnerable.

However, Otu mentioned that the president needed everyone's collaboration to succeed in the task of lifting 50 million Nigerians out of poverty by 2030.

He expressed his administration's readiness to support the initiative and collaborate with other Federal Government initiatives on poverty reduction.

While noting that some people had already started receiving payment alerts, he described the development as timely, especially with the Christmas celebration approaching.

The governor assured the people of a brighter future in the country and the state, in particular.

“With the way the government speaks to the economics of the nation, it means the future of the nation is secured.

“For Cross River, we are looking into all key sectors from agriculture, security and tourism. In no distant time, the state will be a toast of all the other states in the nation,” he said.

He said that the physically challenged would not be segregated by his administration as a commission had been created to handle issues concerning them.

Earlier, the minister expressed the president’s determination to reduce poverty to the barest minimum.

She noted that President Tinubu was working closely with the Cross River Government and other state governors to achieve this.

“The Federal Government has so many initiatives such as the Farmer Money, Trader Money, Conditional Cash Transfer in which 3.5 million Nigerians have benefitted across board.

“We also have the End Hunger Programme that will be launched in January,l and the Skill Acquisition Programme, among others; all I ask for at the state level, is for the state to key fully to the centre.”

She appealed to residents of Cross River to support the governor of the state to enable him to effectively continue from where the previous administration in the state stopped.

On her part, Mrs Eyoanwan Otu, Wife of the Governor, said the initiative would make significant impact on the lives of countless individuals in the state.