Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed
ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi –
Bauchi State Government has concluded its Kaura Economic Empowerment Programme across the 20 LGAs of the state with the empowerment of 11,500 people who benefited over N2 billion.
Although, according to the Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed, 500 people benefitted from the intervention of between N70 million and N100 million across 19 LGAs, Bauchi which is the last LGA where the programme is being launched, has 2,000 people benefitting from the N190 million empowerment programme.
Speaking at the launching of the KEEP for Bauchi LGA at an event which held over the weekend, at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium in the metropolis, Governor Mohammed, explained that the number of beneficiaries and the amount they are getting is higher in Bauchi LGA because of its size in comparison to the others.
He said he has fulfilled part of the campaign promises he made in 2019 of empowering the people.
He said: “By the grace of God, we are here to launch the programme in Bauchi local government which is the largest local government, not only in Bauchi state but in Nigeria. Today’s occasion can therefore be described as the grand finale of the launching of the Kaura Economic Empowerment Programme across the 20 local government areas of the state.
“In each of the 19 local government areas where the programme was launched, the total number of beneficiaries were not less than 500 and the least amount was N75 million and N100 million. However, in the case of Bauchi local government, the total number of beneficiaries and the total package to be disbursed are much higher.
“The total number of beneficiaries are 2,000 and about N190 million is being distributed. Out of the total beneficiaries, 1,850 would be given cash to either start or improve their businesses. The remaining 150 beneficiaries would be given various items which include: motorcycles, buses, sewing machines, laundry machines, among others.
“As an economic intervention initiative, KEEP has changed the lives of its beneficiaries for the better. Indeed, it is not an overstatement to say that the generality of the people of Bauchi state are feeling the positive impact of the programme. This can be attested to the various economic activities that have sprung up across the books and crannies of the state,” he said.
The governor noted that his administration has so far given traders N300 million loans as part of N500 million it intends giving to them in order to boost their businesses across the state.
He said that his administration has begun the construction of ultramodern markets in Bauchi and Azare towns promising that if reelected, he will expand markets across the other four Emirate Councils in the state.
He said: “In our efforts to boost economic activities and further empower the people of Bauchi state through encouraging entrepreneurship, we have also embarked on the construction of modern markets in both Bauchi and Azare towns. And I want to say that, if given another opportunity, I want to increase the expansion of markets from both Bauchi and Azare to include our Emirates of Dass, Ningi, Jama’are and Misau, if God gives us the opportunity to come back (for a second term).
“The groundbreaking for the foundation laying of the Azare Modern Market was performed in September and our government has given N500 million to our traders with the first batch being N300 million that we have given.”
In a remark, the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the State, Hamza Akuyam, said that N2 billion has been expended for empowering the people.
“I want to tell you, Your Excellency, throughout this programme, your administration has spent about N2 billion across the 20 local government areas of this state. Honestly, you our knowledge, this has never taken place in Bauchi state.
“You didn’t give us the name of any person who would benefit from this anywhere. These names came from the stakeholders in each of the local governments, even the cars that are given to individuals, cars that are given to the youth leader, woman leader. Honestly, you didn’t tell us who to give to, it was the stakeholders that did that. This is what leadership is all about,” he stated.
