Business

Kaduna Disburses N500m To Unemployed Youths, Women

Published

15 years ago

April 5, 2011

The Kaduna State Government disbursed N500 million interest-free micro-credit loans to selected unemployed youths and women traders within the last one year, Gov. Patrick Yakowa has said.

Yakowa said during the distribution of poverty alleviation materials in the Kaduna Central Senatorial District at the Kaduna Township Stadium that the effort succeeded through collaboration with micro-finance institutions.

He noted that an unspecified number of the beneficiaries had now set up various small-scale enterprises.

The programme had earlier been launched on Monday in Kafachan, Jema’a Local Government Area, where the state government said it had earmarked N153 million as micro-credit loans to finance small-scale enterprises.

Yakowa said on Wednesday that the state government would strive to reduce poverty among the vulnerable groups by assisting them to set up more small-scale businesses to meet family needs and help grow the economy.

The governor urged the beneficiaries to support government in its poverty eradication programme by sustaining such businesses.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation, Mr Yohanna Chindo, had said that similar items had been distributed in the Southern Senatorial District.

Chindo said the beneficiaries were mostly the less privileged, women associations and youth organisations, which received training and were willing to establish small-scale businesses.

According to him, 7,630 traders and unemployed youths are benefiting from the N153 million interest-free loans being disbursed across the 255 wards in the state.

The commissioner said 30 people in each of the wards would benefit to tune of N20,000 to help them set up businesses that were less capital intensive.

A breakdown shows that 2,610 people will benefit to tune of N52,200,000 each from senatorial districts I and III, while 2,410 others will receive N48,600,000 from district II.

Reports said that the beneficiaries are expected to repay the loan within eight months.

Meanwhile, 2,369 people in the 23 local government areas are also expected to benefit from various poverty alleviation items, which include grinding and welding machines as well as irrigation pumps for dry season farming.

Chindo said the state government had further set aside N23 million to be disbursed to 103 less privileged persons in the local council areas through development associations.

Similarly, the state government distributed 10 Peugeot 307 cars for township commercial transportation and pledged to provide 100 buses for similar purpose under the auspices of the Kaduna State Transport Authority.

It also distributed 1,500 crash helmets to commercial motorcyclists in the three senatorial districts in an effort to reduce head injuries sustained by the motorcyclists during accidents, the commissioner said.

Business

Gas Economy: Decade of Gas, Pi-CNG/ EV Deepen Media Engagement

Published

54 minutes ago

June 29, 2026

The Tide

Poised to achieving an in-depth understanding of the Nigeria’s gas economy by it’s populace, the Decade of Gas Secretariat, in collaboration with the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas and Electric Vehicles (Pi-CNG & EV), has deepened media capacity engagement across the country.

The media session, third in its series, and held at the Hotel President, Port Harcourt, recently, brought together 30 journalists from the television, radio, print, and digital media platforms to deepen their understanding of Nigeria’s gas development agenda and further enhance their reportage on the role of gas in driving economic growth, energy security, industrialization, job creation, and improved living standards.

Speaking during the session, the representative, Decade of Gas Secretariat,Taofeek Balogun , noted that the port Harcourt engagement followed two earlier sessions held in Lagos and Abuja, a move that began in 2025.

According to him, Nigeria’s gas sector continues to record significant progress, with year-to-date gas production reaching 7.85 billion standard cubic feet per day (bcfd).

Domestic gas utilization has surpassed the 2 bcfd mark, while gas exports have risen to their highest level in five years, reflecting growing demand across power generation, industries, transportation, exports, and household consumption.

Balogun emphasised the successful completion of the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) River Niger Crossing by NGIC/NNPCL, describing it as a critical infrastructure milestone that would improve gas transportation across the country, support industrial growth, attract investment, strengthen energy security, and contribute to economic development.

As part of efforts to expand domestic gas utilization, he reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to increasing access to clean cooking solutions. The government’s target is to distribute cooking gas cylinders to five million households by 2030.

Following the successful rollout of the programme across the six geopolitical zones by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, implementation would now move to the state level, beginning with Bayelsa State in July 2026.

Under the initiative, Balogun said, 27,000 households in Bayelsa are expected to receive cooking gas cylinders within the year as part of the 1(one) million homes per year target.

Also speaking, the Chief Operating Officer of Pi-CNG & EV, Tosin Coker, highlighted ongoing efforts to expand the adoption of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and electric mobility solutions as cleaner and more affordable transportation alternatives for Nigerians.

He disclosed that the Federal Government is promoting the adoption of CNG across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) through the conversion of existing vehicle fleets and the procurement of CNG-powered vehicles as part of broader efforts to reduce transportation costs and improve energy efficiency.

Coker said “more than 100,000 vehicles have now been converted to CNG nationwide under the initiative, reflecting growing acceptance of alternative fuel solutions and supporting the country’s transition towards cleaner and more sustainable transportation”.

Participants commended the initiative for strengthening media capacity and improving public understanding of developments within Nigeria’s energy sector.

The Decade of Gas Secretariat and Pi-CNG & EV further reaffirmed their commitment to sustained stakeholder engagement and public awareness as Nigeria continues its journey towards a gas-powered economy.

Business

Group Seeks Media Partnership To Enhance Business Growth

Published

1 hour ago

June 29, 2026

The Tide

The Chief Executive Officer of Kefa Communication, Mr. Obihele Victor Amos, has called for stronger collaboration between business organisations and media institutions to enhance business growth, economic expansion and wider public engagement across communities.

Amos made the call during a press briefing in Port Harcourt at the weekend.

He emphasised that strategic media partnership remains critical to improving visibility for businesses and attracting investment opportunities.

According to him, the media occupies a central position in shaping public perception and creating awareness that can support enterprise development and economic sustainability.

He also noted that, many emerging businesses continue to face growth limitations due to insufficient publicity and inadequate access to effective communication channels.

“Stronger engagement with the media would help bridge information gaps and create better connections between businesses and potential customers”, he said.

The CEO further stated that responsible and developmental journalism could play a significant role in promoting innovation and encouraging healthy competition within the business environment.

He stressed that beyond informing the public, the media serves as a platform for influencing policies and encouraging stakeholder participation in economic development.

Amos further disclosed the group is committed to building relationships with media organisations through continuous engagement and collaborative initiatives.

He said such partnerships would create opportunities for entrepreneurs and support efforts aimed at expanding market access.

The business leader also urged media practitioners to sustain professionalism and continue highlighting stories that promote enterprise and national development.

He expressed confidence that improved synergy between the media and the business community would contribute to employment generation and economic resilience.

Some participants at the briefing described the initiative as a welcome development capable of strengthening public understanding of business opportunities.

There were also calls for sustained cooperation among stakeholders to drive inclusive business growth and long-term development.

King Onunwor

Business

NLC Demands Payment of Retired Seafarers’ Benefits

Published

1 hour ago

June 29, 2026

The Tide

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called on the federal government to immediately pay all pension, entitlements,outstanding benefits due to retired Nigerian seafarers

The Deputy President NLC and former President General Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) Comrade Adewale Adeyanju made the call in a statement issued to Newsmen during the celebration of 2026 Day of the Seafarer.

He noted that continued delay are worsening the plight of elderly maritime workers.

Adeyanju expressed concern that despite a verification exercise conducted nearly four years ago to facilitate payment of retirees’ benefits, many of the affected seafarers are yet to receive their entitlements.

According to him, the prolonged delay has had devastating consequences, with several beneficiaries reportedly dying while waiting for payment, while others have become seriously ill, incapacitated, or pushed deeper into poverty.

He urged government to act swiftly by clearing the backlog of pensions and outstanding benefits, stressing that retired seafarers who dedicated their lives to serving the nation and supporting global trade deserve to be treated with dignity.

“These are men and women who spent years at sea contributing to the economy and facilitating international commerce.

“It is only fair that they receive what is due to them without further delay,” he said.

Adeyanju’s appeal came as the global maritime community marked this year’s Day of the Seafarer under the theme, “Carrying World Trade. Carrying The Risks.”

Reflecting on the theme, he noted that 2026 has been particularly challenging for seafarers due to geopolitical tensions and security concerns affecting major shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz.

He commended seafarers worldwide for their resilience and commitment in ensuring the uninterrupted movement of goods despite increasing dangers at sea.

“Seafarers remain the backbone of international trade. Their sacrifices and dedication continue to sustain economies around the world even in the face of significant risks,” he stated.

Beyond the issue of retirees’ welfare, Adeyanju also drew attention to broader concerns within the maritime sector.

He urged the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy to restore the engagement of onboard gangway men on berthed vessels, arguing that their presence plays a critical role in preventing cargo theft, pilferage and other forms of economic sabotage at the ports.

Describing gangway men as the “eagle eyes” of port operations as he maintained that their reinstatement would strengthen security around ships and improve operational efficiency.

Deputy President NLC also raised concerns over the state of maritime training in the country, particularly at the Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron.

He lamented that many graduates of the institution continue to face challenges obtaining the certifications and sea-time experience required to secure employment in the global shipping industry.

Adeyanju called on the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to intensify efforts towards ensuring that graduates of the academy are properly trained, fully certificated and globally competitive.

While acknowledging ongoing reforms in the maritime sector, he commended the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy for initiatives aimed at transforming Nigerian ports and improving industry performance.

“On this Day of the Seafarer, we celebrate the courage, sacrifice and commitment of seafarers who keep global trade moving as their welfare and future must remain a priority,” he said.

CHINEDU WOSU