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Fuel Subsidy: FG to commence disbursement of N125bn grants to SMEs, manufacturers

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The federal government has announced its impending initiation of the disbursement of funds through the N125 billion Presidential Palliative Programme. The aim of this program is to mitigate the repercussions of the elimination of fuel subsidies. Doris Uzoka-Anite, the Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment, revealed in a statement on Sunday that the initiative comprises the Presidential Conditional Grant Programme and the Presidential Palliative Loan Programme.

Under the Presidential Conditional Grant Programme, the federal government intends to distribute N50,000 to nano businesses operating across the 774 local government areas. Uzoka-Anite detailed the collaborative efforts between the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria, state and local governments, federal legislators, federal ministers, banks, and other stakeholders in implementing the program. Eligible nano business beneficiaries are required to furnish evidence of their residential/business address in the local government area and provide pertinent personal and bank account information, including the Bank Verification Number for identity verification.

Moreover, the initiative plans to allocate N75 billion to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) across diverse sectors, and an additional N75 billion specifically earmarked for manufacturers. The loan facilities will be administered at a favorable single-digit interest rate of nine percent per annum. MSMEs can access loans up to N1 million with a three-year repayment period, while manufacturers can access up to N1 billion for working capital with a one-year repayment period or five years for the acquisition of machinery and equipment.

In July, President Bola Ahmed had unveiled the plan to disburse N125 billion to SMEs and MSMEs operating across the 744 local governments in Nigeria.

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Hospital Board Suspends Doctor Over Negligence In Kano

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Dr. Mansur Nagoda, the Executive Secretary of the Kano State Hospitals Management Board, has sanctioned the immediate suspension of a medical officer at the Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital. This action follows numerous complaints from patients and staff regarding the doctor’s unauthorized absence from duty.

Dr. Nagoda disclosed that the suspended doctor, whose identity is withheld, left the hospital without informing any authority or management personnel. Despite attempts to reach her, she claimed to be on the premises but failed to report to the doctors’ quarters or fulfill her duties, leaving a dialysis patient distressed.

Emphasizing the ethical responsibility of doctors to prioritize patient care, Dr. Nagoda stressed the need for accountability and professionalism within the healthcare system. He warned that proper arrangements must be made with another doctor when absent from duty, and negligence will not be tolerated.

The suspension will remain in effect pending the investigation’s outcome, demonstrating the board’s commitment to upholding standards of conduct among healthcare workers. Dr. Nagoda reiterated the board’s expectation for all personnel to fulfill their duties diligently, emphasizing consequences for those found derelict in their responsibilities.

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Oyebanji approves 50% subsidy on improved oil palm, cocoa, cashew seedlings for Ekiti farmers

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Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji of Ekiti State has authorized a 50 percent subsidy on oil palm, cocoa, and cashew seedlings for distribution to farmers in the state during this planting season. Mr. Ebenezer Boluwade, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, conveyed this information in a statement released to the press in Ado-Ekiti.

He explained that this initiative is part of the strategic measures undertaken by the Oyebanji administration to generate employment, foster wealth creation, and revive Ekiti State’s agricultural sector to its former glory, particularly harking back to the prosperous era of the 1970s when it was renowned globally as a leading cocoa production hub in Nigeria.

Boluwade emphasized that the program aims to rejuvenate the state’s agricultural prowess by replacing aging trees in existing plantations and those lost to bushfires with high-quality seedlings possessing shorter gestation periods. Furthermore, concerted efforts are underway to attract enthusiastic young farmers into cocoa plantation farming.

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‘We’ve no hotel’ – Nigerian Correctional Service clears air

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The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) clarified that the Correctional Service Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society (COCOS) Hotel and Gardens Project was not financed by the Federal Government. Umar Abubakar, the agency’s Public Relations Officer, made this statement in Abuja on Wednesday, emphasizing that the hotel was an investment of the NCoS Cooperative Society.

Responding to concerns raised about the facility, Abubakar stressed that the hotel, featured on the Service’s official Facebook page, was solely aimed at enhancing staff welfare. He attributed its establishment to strategic planning and efficiency within the agency’s cooperative unit.

Abubakar expressed bewilderment at attempts to discourage meaningful investments, highlighting that the “COCOS Hotels and Gardens” was inaugurated on March 1, 2021, by former Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola. He asserted that the report in question is not only deceptive but also aimed at spreading misinformation. Abubakar clarified that the hotel was constructed in 2021 and is exclusively owned by the Correctional Cooperative Society, established in 1996 for all personnel of the service.

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