The Bauchi state government said it had distributed economic strengthening items worth N1.35billion to 9,000 youths and women in 18 out of the 20 Local Government Areas of the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state government had previously distributed the economic strengthening items worth N75 million to 500 beneficiaries in each of the same LGAs.
Inaugurating the distribution of the items in Alkaleri on Saturday, Gov. Bala Mohammed said that the kits and vehicles were provided through the Kaura Economic and Empowerment Programme (KEEP), initiated by his administration.
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According to him, the programme had covered 90 per cent of the state having reached 18 of the 20 LGAs of the state.
He said the programme had been designed to boost economic activities in order to address problems of unemployment and poverty alleviation among the people especially, the vibrant youths and women.
“An average of N75 million in both cash and kind had been distributed to selected beneficiaries in each of the local governments where the programme had so far been launched.
“The same gesture is being replicated here today in Kirfi and Alkaleri LGAs,” Mohammed said.
Mohammed also reiterated government’s commitment to infrastructure development in education, healthcare, roads and security.
He added, “we are not only building schools and the rest, we must fight poverty.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the remaining two local government areas yet to benefit from the gesture are Bauchi and Katagum.
NAN also reports that some of the items distributed included motorcycles, grinding machines, sewing machines.
Others were galaxy Sharon buses, groundnut processing equipment, goats to encourage animal husbandry and cash gifts, among others.
NAN
