MAIDUGURI, North-East, Nigeria – Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, has flagged off a second phase of economic support for small and medium enterprises in three Local Government Areas of the state.
A sum of N1billion was set aside for disbursement to 5,000 entrepreneurs in six Local Governments Areas namely; Biu, Gowza, Ngala, Monguno, Mobbar and Maiduguri Metropolitan Council, (MMC).
Over 80 commercial vehicles and Keke Napep were also distributed to beneficiaries to support their sources of livlilhood.
In December 2019, N384m was distributed to empower street beggars while in January 2020, N515m was disbursed in ‘cash for work’ programme in which 2,862 members of “Ecomog”, an outlawed political thuggery group, were each paid N30,000 monthly for half of the year.
The youth received payments for cleaning the streets. While in December 2020, N154m was disbursed to various entrepreneurs within Maiduguri.
The Governor charged the beneficiaries to put to proper use the empowerment packages distributed.
Meanwhile, Zulum extended to Biu the ban on political thugs, and directed security agencies to arrest anyone parading his or herself as political thug to terrorize the citizens.
“The Commissioner of Police, the Director SSS, and all the security establishments are hereby directed to arrest anyone that paraded himself as ECOMOG as from 6am tomorrow.
“Any politician who is sponsoring such thugs shall be dealt with accordingly,” he warned.