Governor Zulum disburses N150 million to traders in Gwoza, as he distributes food items to over 27, 000 households,
By Madu Mohammed, Maiduguri
The Borno state Governor Prof. Babagana Zulum has disbursed N150M to 1,900 traders, small and medium enterprise his efforts to rejuvenate the businesses of the Boko haram insurgency ravaged community of Gwoza
Flagging off the cash distributions at the Palace of the Emir of Gwoza yesterday, Governor Zulum said ” any beneficiary who pay back 50 percent of his loan, the government will waive 50 percent as a grant, for him while anybody who default to repay within four years will be forced to pay in full.”
” N100 million out of the N150 million will be disburse to beneficiaries from Gwoza town while the remaining N50 million will be disburse to beneficiaries from Pulka, Limankara and Izghe communities. Among the 1,900 beneficiaries 6 of them will get N1 million each, 38 N500, 000, 50, N250,009, 404 will get N1000 each, while 732 will get N30 000 each., governor Zulum added.
He said the scheme is to boost the economy of the people of Gwoza local government area and that anybody who is not residing in Gwoza should not benefit.
Earlier speaking, the Borno state commissioner for Trade, Commerce and industry, Hon. Yerima Kareto said the assistance to the small and medium enterprises is inline with Governor Zulum administration’s drive to boost the economy capacity of the traders .
He said a total of 1,900 people of Gwoza will benefit and urged the beneficiaries to put the money given to them in good use.
A beneficiary, ishaatu Ibrahim thanked the Governor for the support and urged other beneficiaries not marry or buy furnitures for their families.
The governor also during his visit to Gwoza distributed food items and non food items to over 27 000 thousand households to reduce the hardships faced by the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and the host community in the area .
Speaking in an interview with newsmen during the distribution exercise , Governor Zulum said ” we have distributed food items to over 11,000 households here in Gwoza., We are expecting to also provide cash to 16 thousand women. We are going to also support the business men in Gwoza with N150 millions to boost their businesses”.
- Each and every household is going home with 1 bag of 12kg of maize, 12kg of beans as well as 10 kg of rice to support their families. We are also going to open up their farmlands for them to have access to enable them cultivate during the coming rainny season to reduce dependency on humanitarian aid,” the governor added.
He said ” we are going to develop your youths through youths empowerment and skill acquisition, the education system and the health sector.
Also speaking in an interview with journalists, a beneficiary, Garba Abdullahi said ” we are very grateful to the state government and our Governor for bringing succour to our families, we pray that God will reward him abundantly . This are the kind of leaders we need.”