Funtua (Katsina State) – Katsina State Government has commenced the distribution of N30, 000 interest free loan to each physically challenge person selected from the 34 local government areas in the state.
Speaking at the disbursement on Saturday, in Funtua, the Special Adviser to Gov. Aminu Masari on Poverty Eradication, Alhaji Abdulkadir Nasir, said that the scheme was part of government’s effort to empower people.
Nasir said that the fund was part of the N2billion loan secured from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to facilitate the growth of small scale businesses across the state, adding that various categories of people would be empowered in the scheme.
He said that the state government would pay the interest required in the loan and beneficiaries would pay the exact amount they collected within 12 months, which would then be given as a revolving loan to another set of beneficiaries.
“All categories of physically challenged persons are enlisted from the local government areas aimed at discouraging streets begging and to ensure that they engage in viable businesses within their capacity that will contribute to the nation’s growth.’’
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Nasir said that government needed to enforce laws that would prevent indiscriminate begging in the society, hence, beggars needed to be empowered before preventing them from begging on the streets.
He urged the beneficiaries to utilise the funds with caution to be of benefit to them.
A beneficiary, Malam Sani Kuturu from Funtua, expressed appreciation for the gesture, saying he would invest in firewood business.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that various beneficiaries were from Dandume, Faskari, Sabuwa, Bakori, Danja, Malumfashi and Musawa.
Others are Matazu, Kafur, Kankara and Funtua local government areas and at least 11 persons benefited from each of the council. (NAN)
