Beneficiaries of Rivers State Government’s empowerment scheme have commended the effort of the State in ensuring that poverty is reduced to the barest minimum.

According to some beneficiaries of the scheme, which is managed by Rivers State Micro Finance Agency (RIMA) it has resulted to economic development in the rural areas.

The Tide correspondent who moved round the rural areas gathered that most beneficiaries had expanded their small scale businesses resulting in the reduction of crime in the different communities.

Speaking on the benefits of RIMA’s loan scheme, Mr Godspower Nkirika, the owner of GMN Favour Store in Ueken, Tai Local Government Area, said his business had increased greatly since he accessed the loan.

Nkirika who has completely paid back the loan said “what I cannot afford in the past, I am now able to afford it with the help of RIMA loan. The zeal and commitment to meet up the repayment made me to be serious and even benefitted the more, having renewed aim/focus,” adding that all the members of his cooperatives have completed their payment.

Another beneficiary, Mr Stephen Wiche the secretary to Omagwa Community Ikwerre Local Government, said the loan helped in alleviating poverty in the cooperative, stating that this is the first time the members of the cooperative are accessing government’s help.

“We have fully paid back the loan according to the specifications of RIMA. The only problem is that the repayment pattern was tough, so we need more loans and extended repayment period, so that we can buy more goods which will also improve economic development in this community,” he said.

He lauded the empowerment scheme saying that it is the best that has happened to the communities.

In a related development, Mr Allison Amadi, the secretary to Ozuoha United Cooperative, Ozuaha Community in Ikwerre Local Government, said his cooperative has just accessed RIMA loan, noting that the cooperative has already mapped out strategies to payback the loan, adding that “I commend RIMA. It is a way of alleviating poverty to make life meaningful for the people in the rural areas. I want to also commend them for increasing the repayment period to one year.”

The President of Belema Nabiokpo cooperative in Benebo compound, Degema Local Government, Mrs barisoma Vincent who has mini-cool room, said the loan took the businesses of the cooperative members to the next level, as they now have conducive environment for business.

Mrs Vincent stated that her business needs more money, adding that the loan has opened her eyes to the height she can reach in his business. She reiterated the need for government to  continue in what she called community service.

The secretary to Owu-Baraibi cooperative, Obuama, Degema, who deals on beeds commend RIMA for the loan from N50,000 to N100,000, saying that the loan has opened her eyes to more business ideas.

Another beneficiary, Mr Debora Wurudain from Ovieten Odiwu Joinkrama traders cooperative, Joinkrama, who owns a provision store, said RIMA in addition to the loan, help the cooperative to overcome the traumer of flood.

“RIMA even extended the repayment period because of the flood. This has made business to move a step further,” she said.

Meanwhile, Gbo-du Gbidum cooperative society, Botem Tai, Tai Local Government defaulted in the repayment of the loan.

In an interview with the secretary of the cooperative, Dumbari Eke in Tai, he said he has completed his own payment, wondering why the chairman has not forwarded the money to RIMA.

The chairman, Mr Benjamin Sunday in a telephone interview claimed that some members have not paid their money but the mentioned members reported that they have fully paid to the chairman.