By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri-
The Borno State Government says it has disbursed over N684 million to petty traders and road hawkers along major highways within the state’s capital Maiduguri, especially Baga Road, Ahmadu Bello Way, Customs House Area, amongst others.
The Government also disbursed N75 million to over 1948 physically challenged persons and 2,870 unemployed youth’s, popularly known as “Ecomog” on monthly basis as stipends.
The State Commissioner of Sports and Youths Development, Hon. Saina Buba disclosed this on Thursday during a press briefing with newsmen held at his office at Musa Usman Secretariat.
Hon. Buba said that Governor Zulum had approved the disbursement of N30,00 monthly each to all the petty traders and even the unemployed youths and persons with disabilities as part of the state government 10 point agenda on youths empowerment before later it was reduced to N15000 after a year to keep them away from street begging and create jobs for the physically challenged persons and youths,
According to him: “In the beginning of this administration, we have registered over 2,877 youths and paid them N30,000 stipend for 6 months, the UNDP took over and paid them the sum of N30,000 for 6 months and due to the paucity of fund and the COVID-19, we are now paying them N15,000 monthly”.
“Also we have registered 1,948 Persons living with disabilities which consists of 1,037 blinds, 511 crippled, 64 deaf, and we were paying them N15,000 monthly to keep them away from street begging. We have also renovated and equiped the State’s Blind Workshop but our major challenges now, is that disable people are now coming from neighbouring states because of the payment”, Buba said.
He further said the State Government has spent N684 miillion in supporting and empowering petty traders along Bulunkutu, Amadu Bello and Bana roads with money ranging from of N20,000, N30,000, N50,000 and N100,0000 respectively.
The commissioner also noted the State Government was making concerted efforts to relocate all the IDPs occupying public facilities with a view to put them into functional use.
He assured that once the IDPs are relocated willingly, work at the new stadium would commence without further delay as the Federal Government had already mobilized the contactor, one Alhaji Funtua with about N1 billion to commence the he work.
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