By Haruna Usman, Birnin Kebbi
Kebbi state government, on Monday flagged off a three billion Naira Covid-19 economic recovery stimulus with a targeted beneficiaries of fifteen thousand vulnerable persons in the society.
The Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Abba Sani Kalgo, who doubles as the state coordinator of the scheme Kebbicares stated that they planned to pay grants of one hundred and twenty thousand to the beneficiaries, but the governor upward reviewed the amount to two hundred thousand naira per person.
He stressed that the money aims to assist the poor particularly whose businesses were affected by Covid-19 pandemic, which shuts down international economies during the time, hence the need to inject money into the economy to ensure the revival of dead trades in the state.
In a symbolic flag off, the governor of Kebbi state, Dr. Nasir Idris presented ATM cards to selected one thousand five hundred persons loaded with two hundred thousand to be cashed at their convenient time.
Idris warned strongly against diverting the grants to another purpose as regulating and monitoring team from the federal government are already in the state to ensure strict compliance.
Earlier, at Haliru Abdu stadium in Birnin Kebbi, the governor laid wreath on the graves of fallen heroes as part of activities lined up for the armed forces remembrance day.
Amid tears for the widows of the fallen heroes from 1 battalion Dukku Barracks in Birnin Kebbi, Idris donated 20 million Naira to the widows to assist them in the upkeep of the children left behind by soldiers who died in line of duties.