Abia kicks off N1bn revolving loans , 9, 200 beneficiary line
Abia state government will kick-off a N1 billion, interest-free revolving loans on Thursday, July 11, 2024. The loan will be issued to 9,200 Abians under the aegis of Abia Cooperatives Scheme, with 50 benfifciaries selected from each of the 184 Wards of the state.
The Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu, disclosed this at Government House, Umuahia while briefing newsmen on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting.
According to him, 50 beneficiaries have been selected from each of the 184 wards in Abia state to benefit from the first phase, adding that the scheme, an interventionist programme, was a form of palliative as well as an empowerment programme that would medium-sized turn the lives of beneficiaries around for the better. The short, medium and long term impacts of the scheme, will no doubt, have a salutary effect on the state’s economy,” Kanu declared.
“In fulfillment of one of his campaign promises, His Excellency, Dr Alex Otti, will on Thursday, the 11th of July 2024, officially launch the disbursement of interest-free Revolving Loans to Abians under the Abia State Cooperative Support Scheme.
“This is meant to support nano- and micro-business operators in the state. It is meant to help them in their businesses.
“It will help to ameliorate the difficulties people are experiencing in their businesses as a result of the economic headwinds that are currently affecting the nation’s economy,” Prince Kanu stated.
Prince Kanu decried the rise in vandalism in public property in the state, including public schools, saying that governemtn was frowning seriously at the development. He warned that such acts of vandalism must stop forthwith and urged Presidents-General of Town Unions , their Executives, Traditional Rulers and other stakeholders to take ownership of the public schools in their communities.
“We found out that people are busy trying to vandalise school properties and this ugly trend needs to be stopped so that the effort the government is making at reforming the education sector will not be in vain,” the Commissioner said.
He announced announced that enforcement against street trading and illegal motor park operations in Aba and Umuahia would now commence in earnest and advised those engaging in such acts to desist forthwith.
Contributing, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Prince Uzor Nwachukwu, said the government has so far shown understanding and applied human face to the enforcement and would now act accordingly.
“Now we want to get into enforcement, having pleaded with our people for the past three months, we believe we have done enough. We owe all Abians a duty to ensure our cities are safe, that’s what we want to achieve and that is in the interest of all Abians,” Prince Nwachukwu stated.
Also, speaking, the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Mike Akpara, clarified that contrary to the rumours making the rounds that he takes home N10 million monthly, neither him nor any other Abia state government officials take home such a humongous amount monthly from the government coffers, adding that such rumours were unfounded.
“I want to categorically state here, that the Commissioner of Finance does not take home 10 million Naira monthly . It is not done anywhere.
“I also want to say that none of my colleagues take home such big sums of money. They said some take home N5 million and some others N3 million monthly. There is nothing like that,” Mr. Akpara stressed.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma, and the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, were present at the briefing.
