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Hardship Grant controversy: More States Dispute FG’s Claim of Disbursing N573 Billion Grant
Published
5 months agoon
By
Ekwutos BlogMore states have refuted President Tinubu’s claim of a N573bn hardship fund, clarifying it’s a World Bank loan, not a grant.
The controversy surrounding the purported disbursement of N573 billion to subnational governments announced by President Bola Tinubu during a nationwide broadcast on Sunday, continued on Friday, as more States denied receiving such fund from his administration.
Just like the Governor of Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule, on Thursday, faulted the claim by the President, Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, yesterday, also denied receiving the N573 billion hardship grant claimed to have been given to the state governments by the federal government.
Abia and Osun State governments also indicated that they were yet to receive such funds, maintaining that the World Bank intervention was a loan to States and not a grant from the Nigerian government. Other states contacted also declined to comment, in an apparent move not to be seen as being in conflict with the President.
Tinubu had while addressing Nigerians in a broadcast during the #EndBadGovernance nationwide protests against hunger and hardship, said the government had disbursed N573 billion to the 36 states.
However, in a newsletter No 95 |August 2024 personally signed by Makinde, which was shared on his X handle, he said the state was not in the know of such a grant.
Makinde explained: “In my newsletter tonight, I responded to a question from a concerned citizen of Oyo State regarding the claim that the Federal Government ‘gave’ States over N570 billion as some kind of ‘hardship fund’ for citizens.
“Before I speak more on further actions we have taken to show our commitment to productivity and sustainability, let me respond to a long message I received earlier in the week from a concerned citizen. The message was about a purported N570 billion Hardship Fund “given” to the 36 States by the Federal Government. I was queried about what I used the money for.
“Let me state categorically that this is yet another case of misrepresentation of facts. The said funds were part of the World Bank-assisted NG-CARES project—a Programme for Results intervention.
“The World Bank facilitated an intervention to help States in Nigeria with COVID-19 Recovery. CARES means COVID-19 Action Recovery Economic Stimulus. It was called Programme for Results because States had to use their money in advance to implement the programme. After the World Bank verified the amount spent by the State, it reimbursed the States through the platform provided at the Federal level. The Federal Government did not give any State money; they were simply the conduit through which the reimbursements were made to States for money already spent.
“It is important to note that the World Bank fund is a loan to States, not a grant. So, States will need to repay this loan. Note also that NG-CARES, which we christened Oyo-CARES in our State, predates the present federal administration.
“So, in direct response to the message, the Federal Government did not give Oyo State any money. We were reimbursed funds (N5.98 billion in the first instance and N822 million in the second instance) we invested in the three result areas of NG-CARES, which includes inputs distribution to smallholder farmers within our State. In fact, when the World Bank saw our model for the distribution of inputs preceded by biometric capturing of beneficiary farmers, they adopted it as the NG-CARES model.”
Makinde’s denial comes on the heels of controversies that greeted the nationwide hunger and hardship protests.
Also, Abia State Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Mike Akpara, in response to THISDAY’s enquiry, said the federal government’s comment about the purported grant “is vague”.
“They should come out clear and state categorically what they gave each state,” he said, adding that when that is done, governors could be held accountable on how they spent the money.
Akpara, expressed doubt if the federal government was sure of its claims on the disbursement of the said grant to states and wondered if the amount was calculated based on the rice it distributed to states or other forms of palliatives.
According to him, loans are applied for, negotiated and processed on individual basis and any state that needed loan would pursue it without recourse to other states as a group.
Also, responding to THISDAY’s enquiries, a source from Osun State government that pleaded to remain anonymous, said the N573 billion hardship grant claimed to have been given to the state governments by the federal government was not the truth.
Governor Sule had in an interview with Channels Television, stressed that the World Bank loan received by states was for infrastructural projects and not to cushion the effects of hardship faced by Nigerians.
The governor had explained that states received the money in batches with the latest received in June, stressing that it was a loan and not free funds and was initiated in 2020.
“The money is tied to certain projects. It is almost like a regimented loan from the World Bank. The money is not for rice, it is not for palliatives, it is not for anything in that line.
“That money came from the World Bank and that was the second disbursement which came in November last year. The amount was credited to the account of every other state, sometime around January.”
Many Nigerians, including a senior lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, a human rights crusader and the Chair, of Alliance on Surviving Covid-19 and Beyond (ASCAB), had since the announcement by the President been challenging states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to explain how they spent the N573 billion.
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Columns
“Why men should marry poor women” – Mr Nigeria (VIDEO)
Published
4 days agoon
January 18, 2025By
Ekwutos Blog
Nigeria’s top influencer, Ugochukwu Nwokolo, popularly known as Mr. Nigeria, recently shared his perspective on why men should consider marrying women from less privileged backgrounds.
Speaking on a recent episode of The Honest Bunch podcast, Ugochukwu expressed his belief that poor women possess certain qualities that make them ideal partners, citing their prayerfulness and fertility as key attributes.
In his words, “Poor girls turn me on. The poorer she is, the more attractive I find her. A poor woman will wake up at 7:00 a.m., join NSPPD, and pray fervently for her husband. She’ll say, ‘I’m putting my husband on the fire altar.’ When it comes to fertility, poor women can be incredibly fertile.”
Ugochukwu Nwokolo is the first-ever Mr. Nigeria Supranational, crowned by the Silverbird Group under the Mister World Nigeria platform. He will represent Nigeria in the Mr. Supranational competition held in Poland.
FOLLOW THE LINK BELOW TO SEE VIDEO:
https://x.com/OneJoblessBoy/status/1880540913497518518?t=WFcx7Q6extTGZjdFyNkSww&s=19
Columns
Do you know that an Att0rney General in Nigeria can walk into any c0urt while a Cri’minal case is going on and put a st0p to that cri’minal case
Published
4 days agoon
January 18, 2025By
Ekwutos BlogDo you know that an Att0rney General in Nigeria can walk into any c0urt while a Cri’minal case is going on and put a st0p to that cri’minal case
I mean any crim’inal case at all, if you like make e b the case wey dey kpai person or make e be R(@)P£ case or anyone at all
And they have the p0wer to do so without any explanation at all
They can just walk into any c0urt room and say this crim’inal matter will not proceed anymore
I am exercising my p0wer of nolle prosequi as an Att0rney General in Nigeria
Chai, this p0wer sweet
P0wer to st0p any case you want
Ignorance of the law is no excuse
Columns
Baringo man uses KSh 2m cash gift from William Ruto to expand online goat marketplace
Published
5 days agoon
January 17, 2025By
Ekwutos Blog- Efarmer Goats Initiative, which has transformed goat farming through innovation, was conceived on December 1, 2023
- The website helps people who are looking for goats to buy them at an affordable price and get them in different corners of the country and the world
- When Enock Kimosop explained his idea to President William Ruto in December 2024, he got a KSh 2 million cash gift from him, and he told TUKO.co.ke that it helped expand his business
Baringo: Enock Kimosop, a man thriving in the goat business, has shared how a KSh 2 million gift from President William Ruto helped him increase his number of goats and better utilise his form of transportation.
How was Efarmer Goats idea conceived?
Speaking to TUKO.co.ke, Kimosop shared that the concept of the Efarmer Goats Initiative, which transforms goat farming through innovation, was conceived on December 1, 2023, during the annual Kimalel Goat Auction.
“I was inspired by speeches from dignitaries at the event, which emphasised the need to make the process of buying and selling goats digital,” he said.
“The idea of selling goats online took root as a way to modernise the traditional goat farming business and address challenges in market access,” he added.
How did Kimosop get Efarmer website started?
Enock started to put his idea in motion; he reached out to his friends from Strathmore and another lady who helped build the website.
The site went live on April 2, 2024, and the group had a vision of transforming the website into an app within a year if it was successful.
Just as with many other businesses, Enock didn’t have all the cash needed to start, so he got together with some friends, and they contributed KSh 150,000 each; in the end, they had a capital of KSh 600,000, and they started their businesses of selling goats online.
How else did the Kimalel meeting help Efarmer?
“Our first sales took place during the Idd Mubarak celebrations in 2024, where we successfully sold 200 goats to individuals and butcheries; some were taking upto 10,” said Enock.
On December 17, 2024, Enock returned to the Kimalel Goat Auction to showcase his firm’s initiative. The president and other stakeholders helped them gain significant visibility, allowing them to penetrate the market at an accelerated pace.
“The KSh 2 million from the president helped boost the businesses with more goats. Initially, we were also transporting a few goats which was costly but now they can get return on investment,” he said.
“Despite our progress, transportation costs remain a significant challenge. Renting trucks for goat transportation is expensive and inefficient. To address this, we are actively exploring options to acquire our own lorry, which would greatly reduce logistics costs and enhance profitability,” he added.
How does Efarmer source goats?
Over time, Efarmer Goats identified reliable sources of the animals, ensuring consistent supply and competitive pricing.
Once Efarmer Goats has found the best breeds needed by the clients, they transport them on a lorry to Nairobi, where they have since found a holding ground in Rongai. At the holding ground, the goats are fed well and rest.
“It is important that they are fed and rest well so that their kgs do not go down after slaughtering,” insisted Enock.
How has the evolution of Efarmer happened over time?
Today, Efarmer Goats has established a foothold in international markets as well, and Enock said that they now have a client from Dubai who orders 1000 goats from them on a monthly basis.
“We are managing 300 goats weekly and we sell to him per kilogram. There is also another Saudi Arabia client who is reliable,” he said.
Efarmer Goats prioritises reliability and efficiency. They aim to build client trust while empowering local farmers through sustainable practices and innovative solutions.
One such solution is a mobile app where farmers will be able to upload their goats for sale directly onto the platform, connecting them to buyers within their region.
“This platform will be cost-effective, with farmers only paying a small website application fee,” said Enock.
“We aim to fully exploit global opportunities, increasing our export capacity to handle goat sales in bulk quantities (measured in tons),” he added.
There are also farmer empowerment programs, where Efarmer Goats buys kids from farmers for KSh 6,000, provides guidance on rearing them, and facilitates sales at significantly higher prices (between Ksh 12,000 and Ksh 15,000) after a year.
This initiative ensures farmers achieve higher returns while enhancing their rearing skills.
What are some of the challenges Kimosop faced?
Efarmer Goats expanded its reach to Nairobi, selling both through the website and offline. However, the initial phase was marked by significant challenges.
Among them was the high cost of transportation; transporting goats using large trucks, despite having only a few goats per trip, inflated operational costs.
“Inconsistent and high purchase prices for goats in some regions negatively impacted profitability. These logistical and supply chain issues led to initial losses, prompting us to refine our operations,” shared Enock.
Apparently, the future of goat farming in Kenya lies in technology, collaboration, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. Efarmer Goats said they embody those values as they continue to grow and transform.
Thika farmer frustrated by gate prices turns to grocery business
Elsewhere, on January 13, 2024, Sebastian Peter became the proud owner of two grocery shops in Thika Ngoingwa Estate, Mangu Road.
According to Peter, a friend lent him money to start leasing land for his vegetables, but later, he was frustrated by people who would buy them at KSh 3 and sell them between KSh 50 and KSh 100.
Speaking to TUKO.co.ke, Peter shared that he started as a hawker for his produce, such as kales, but over time, gate prices frustrated him, and he opted to start food kiosks.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura Guthua, journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke
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