Kebbi Gov Pledges Support To SMEs To Fasttrack Economic Devt Of The State

In line with with his administration’s commitment to empower women and youths, Kebbi State Governor, Comrade Dr. Nasir Idris, Kauran Gwandu has reiterated his pledge to support traders and other small business owners to thrive in the state.

This according to the Governor would fast track economic development,promote wellbeing and create employment to our youths.

Governor Nasir Idris stated this while flagging off financial empowerment to six hundred beneficiaries sponsored by Market Traders Association of Nigeria, MATAN and the swearing in of the association’s state executives at the Presidential Banquet Hall in Birnin on Monday.

According to the Governor ‘ My administration will continue to support every trader in the state, because you are contributing to the development of the State’ ‘he said.

He charged the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the empowerment.

He congratulated people of Kebbi State on the advent of new year and promised that the year would be a year of infrastructural development in Kebbi State.

Earlier, the State Commissioner for Commerce, Alhaji Usman Ladan in his welcome address said the State Ministry of Commerce has planned a number of programmes this year that would benefit SMEs in the state.

Alhaji Abubakar Abdullahi Sokoto who represented the National Chairman of the association Alhaji Jamilu Abbas said the association would introduce program to provide soft loan to market traders of between one and five million Naira interest free to sustain their trade.

The Chairman also said the association will hold a national conference to be attended by the IGP, State governors and other stakeholders in order to address the problem of multiple taxation, collection of vat and illegal revenue collection along the highways on goods on transit.

‘ Such is inimical to smooth conduct of business and consequently led to increase in the prices of goods ‘, he complained.

He commended the State Governor, Comrade Dr. Nasir Idris Kauran Gwandu on the agricultural development and infrastructural development .

The State Chairman association, Ismaila Abubakar Usman Kamba ,thanked the governor for his presence at the ceremony and the provision of assistance and other requirements to members of the association whenever the need arose.

He explained the objectives of the association was to assist small scale traders and those in distress,saying that MATAN has so far provided succour to traders in Jega,Yauriand Zuru but the has stalled due to lack of funds and appealed to the State Government for assistance to cover all parts of the state.

He affirmed to the Governor that MATAN wad a strong supporter of Governor Nasir Idris and the ruling APC which uphold to the end of his tenure.

In a goodwill message, the State APC Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Muhammad Kana Zuru requested the association to intervene to keep rhe prices of goods and foodstuff down during the coming Ramadan.

The Speaker, Kebbi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Usman Muhammad Ankwe representative by Hon. Atiku Kurya advised the government and traders to reflect the teachings of the famous Islamic Scholar,Sheik Abdullahi Ibn Fodio who emphasised the importance of knowledge, agriculture and commerce in the life of humanity.

On the occasion, MATAN inducted governor Nasir Idris as its National Patron and presented to him with an award of honor.

Present at the occasion were the state deputy governor, Senator Umar Abubakar Tafida, SSG, Alhaji Yakubu Bala Tafida, Head of Service, Alhaji Sufyanu Garba Bena, Commissioners, Special Advisers, traditional rulers , politicians and other government functionaries.

Credit: YAHAYA SARKI,
Special Adviser (SA) to Kebbi State Governor on Media and Publicity.