Over 4,500 commercial transport operators in Abia State, comprising vehicles, tricycle, and motorcycle unions will benefit from the N75billion survival fund of the Federal Government, geared towards cushioning the effect of the COVID-19 lockdown on the operators.
Chinenye Nwaogu, Abia state focal person on special funds, made this known during a sensitisation meeting with leaders of transport unions in the state.
The meeting, which was hosted by Godswill Nwanoruo, state’s Commissioner for Transport, had in attendance the leadership of motor unions, tricycle (Keke) associations and commercial motorcycle (Okada) operators.
Nwaogu explained that the Federal Government launched the national economic sustainability programme, to cushion the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic, which according to him, dealt a damaging blow to the global economy, including Nigeria.
He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari, for sustaining his social protection and poverty reduction programmes.
Nwaogu stated that Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has been at the forefront of the domestication of these pro-poor programmes, due to his passion to uplift the lives of Abians.
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Nwaogu emphasised that no beneficiary will pay any fees for the programme and reminded the union leaders that as usual, his office is working closely with the security agencies to fish out anyone, who tries to extort money from potential beneficiaries.
He further stated that the Abia State social investment programme office has since its creation, administered social protection programmes, impacting the lives of over one-million Abians and that many more programmes are in the offing.
He urged Abians to continue to pray for Governor Ikpeazu’s administration for their determination to improve the livelihood of the people.
“Under this scheme, each of the over 4500 selected beneficiaries in the state will receive a one-off non-repayable grant of N30,000”, he stated.
He thanked the Governor for his support in the implementation of these programmes and his continued insistently that these programmes come at no extra cost to the final beneficiaries.
Nwanoruo, the state’s commissioner for Transport, expressed delight that the government remembered those in the transport sector.
He maintained that transporters were amongst the worst hit by the pandemic, due to the extended lockdown across the country.
He observed that these grants would go a long way to enhance the living standard of the families of the beneficiaries, especially at this time many families are facing excruciating economic pressure and charged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the grant.
The highpoint of the meeting was the handing over of the nomination forms to the chairmen of all the transport unions in the state.
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