FG disburses N5m loan to 500 traders in Jigawa

The Federal Government has disbursed N5m as soft loans to 500 petty traders in Jigawa.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Office of the National Directorate of Employment in Dutse disbursed the loans on Wednesday, on behalf of the the Federal Government.

The NDE coordinator in the state, Malam Abubakar Muhammad, told NAN that the state government selected the beneficiaries, who comprised male and female.

Muhammad explained that the soft loans were meant to boost the businesses of the beneficiaries.

“The gesture was aimed at supporting the traders to enhance their small scale businesses, improve their living standards, as well as enhance self reliance among the people of the state.

“It was also aimed at reducing unemployment and restiveness among youths and women in the state.

“This will also empower women to contribute meaningfully to the economic growth of their families, communities, the state, in particular, and the nation, in general,” Muhammad explained.

In his remarks, Muhammad Mujaddadi, the Special Assistant to the Gov. Muhammad Badaru Abubakar on Economic Empowerment, pointed out that the beneficiaries came from 30 constituencies in the state.

Mujaddadi urged the beneficiaries to make good use of the funds so as to enhance their trades.

One of the beneficiaries, Mr Sani Mustapha, a cell phone dealer, commended the gesture, promising to use the loan judiciously.

(NAN)