Katsina to Spend N100 Million to Aid SMEs

from All Africa

Leadership (Abuja)

Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State yesterday said the government had set aside a N100 million interest-free loan scheme to fight poverty and unemployment.

Shema made this known when the Country Review Team of African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) paid him a courtesy call in Katsina. "We have decided to give out N100 million to aid the small- and medium-scale entrepreneurs in the state.

"We have organised the communities and set up what we call development community scheme to involve the grassroots in the planning as the people are to tell us what their needs are".

He said the planners comprise of traditional rulers, clerics, women groups, youths and a representative of each ward of the 10 local governments.

Shema said the state had in the last few months begun a free education scheme in primary and secondary schools. The programme, he said, would include the payment of internal and external examination fees for the students.

The governor said 18 of the 28 minerals identified in Nigeria could be found in Katsina in addition to traces of diamond deposits that had just been discovered.

He said a committee had been set up on how to exploit these mineral resources to improve the economy of the state. Shema said the APRM was critical to the development of Africa and good governance.

He said corruption and military intervention had led to instability and backwardness in Africa. "We have had our experiences since 1999 when we return to democracy though it has not been smooth but we are getting there as it is a gradual process.