As part of efforts to alleviate the suffering of thousands of flood victims in Katsina State, the Governor Dikko Umaru Radda led administration has distributed relief materials to 10,450 victims impacted by the disaster.
This is in addition to the sum of N451,800,000.00 cash support expended on another 1,067 victims in the state. The distribution of the relief items procured by the state government were coordinated through the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA).
State Deputy Governor, Malam Faruq Lawal Jobe made this known while addressing pressmen at a maiden monthly press briefing on the sectoral achievements of the Katsina State Government with focus on the Social Care Sector.
A breakdown of the distributed relief materials presented by Malam Jobe includes 7,128 bags of assorted grains distributed among the less privileged, internally displaced persons, flood victims, women and vulnerable groups.
Furthermore, Malam Jobe disclosed that another tranche of N200,000,000 worth of relief materials were distributed to further cushion the effects of hardship caused by the incident.
“It is noteworthy to mention that the State Government purchased 95,000 bags of assorted grains, and 72,000 bags were collectively purchased by the 34 Local Governments at the cost of N10,677,125,000 and sold to the general public at a subsidized rate of N20,000:00 per bag,” Malam Jobe clarifies.
He added that “The sum of N2,000,000,000.00 was committed to purchase 40,000 bags of 50kg rice and distributed as palliatives with stipends of N10,000 to vulnerable households in Katsina, Funtua and Daura while other households in the remaining 31 LGAs received N5,000,” the Deputy Governor continued.”
Jobe pinpointed the support for Muslim during the Ramadan season to include the establishment of feeding centres in all the 361 wards of the state. This has culminated in the daily feeding of 200 people per ward throughout the fasting period.
On the effect of fuel subsidy, Deputy Governor Jobe highlighted that the state government procured 60 buses
to cushion its effects and assist in transporting the citizens.
The Deputy Governor also disclosed that through the
establishment of the Katsina State Enterprises Development Agency (KASEDA), the State Government has contributed the sum of N3,400,000:00 to the MSME revolving fund, while the Bank of Industry and Sterling Bank who are to manage the fund are expected to contribute the sum of N2,500,000,000:00.
Regarding the state’s partnership for social development, Jobe revealed that the State Government has signed a MoU with Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency or Nigeria (SMEDAN) for the use of Industrial Development Centre in Tundun Matawalle, Katsina as a shared facility for textile, fashion, leather works and agribusiness.
In response to the frontline Local Governments affected by banditry and other security challenges, the State Government, through KASEDA has created N542,000,000:00 victims to support matching livelihood funds in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Similarly, Malam Jobe said the State Government injected the sum of N8,015,786,516.06 under KT-Cares while a total of 12,916 poor and vulnerable households benefited across the state through the Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA) spending N3,455,540,000.00.
“Through the FADAMA program, 11,966 farmers benefited from agric inputs and 31,990 farmers benefited from Agric Assets amounting to N3,400,000,00. In KASEDA, 7,696 firms received operational grants and 243 firms received IT enhancement support grants at N604,826,084.24,” the Deputy Governor asserted.
Other important achievements outlined by the Deputy Governor in Social Care include; the training of 3,000 youths as mechanical apprentices under MASP Program through collaboration with Nigeria Automobile Technicians Association (NATA), disbursement of funds to 2,000 MSMWs under the KASEDA/UNDP livelihood support and 21,818 Nano, Micro and Small Enterprises. Others include the training of 10,000 women across the 34 LGs for 12 months through KASEDA partnership with Enterprise Development Centre/Pan African University Lagos,and the training of 100 women on makeup and beauty artistry.
Malam Jobe reiterated the State Government’s commitment in implementing projects and programs targeted towards improving the lives of residents in the state.
