As part of efforts to curb unemployment, hunger, poverty and youth restiveness in the country, the federal government has concluded plans to disburse N25billion to Nigerians under the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) agribusiness loans scheme.
The Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, Senator Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko stated this at the flag-off of training of 1,000 persons in vocational skills as well as disbursement of N10,000 each, to 600 unemployed women and youths under the NDE Micro Enterprises Enhancement Scheme (MEES), and graduation of 400 youths sponsored by the Senator for training in five automobile and residential security.
“This noble gesture by the President, through the NDE, is aimed at carrying all Nigerians along, in line with the tenets of good governance, accountability and transparency,” Wamakko said.
According to him, the list of the beneficiaries would soon be compiled.
He described the Nigerian masses as the cornerstone of the present President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, adding that the scheme would make the beneficiaries to become productive, self-reliant and self-sustained.
The gesture would discourage the beneficiaries from thuggery, drug abuse, restiveness and other vices, he added.
Wamakko said the training of 400 youths was part of his initiative to complement the efforts of the federal government towards enhancing living standard of Nigerians.
In his remarks, the Director -General of NDE, Dr. Nasir Ladan Argungu, disclosed that beneficiaries of the agribusiness loan from Sokoto state would be given N780 million.