September 12, 2020
By Ijendu Iheaka
Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia has called for increased federal funding and investment for Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Aba to improve the nation’s industrial output.
Ikpeazu made the call in Aba, Abia during a Town Hall Meeting with Trade Association Leaders and Transport operators on Monday.
The programme was organized to sensitize SMEs and Transport Operators on accessing the Nigeria Economic Sustainability Plan’s (NESP) Artisan and Transport Support Scheme component of the MSME Survival fund.
Ikpeazu was represented at the event by Mr Chinenye Nwogu, governor’s Aide on Special Investment and State Focal Person for MSME Survival Fund.
The governor said Nigerian would have no business importing most goods from China if Aba’s creative and productive industrial capacity was fully harnessed.
“Abia especially Aba is unarguably the home of SME, it is unarguably the largest concentration of SMES in Eastern Nigeria so we expect that this support which is for SMES that Aba should receive some priority attention.
“I will like to clarify that in the other components, Abia received a higher number of slots like in the payroll support, business registration and others.
“But for this artisan and transport support scheme which was distributed equally among all the states, we had expected to also receive higher than some states.
“States like Lagos, Kano, should also receive higher than other states because they have larger concentration of artisans and transporters in the country”, he said.
Ikpeazu thanked President Mohammadu Buhari for endorsing the programme and making it easy for every interested operator in the affected sectors to access the funds.
Amb. Mariam Katagun, Minister of State for Trade and Investment and Chairperson, Steering Committee on MSMEs Survival Fund, said the MSMEs in Abia have contributed to sustainable growth of Nigeria’s economy.
She said that the MSME and the Guaranteed off-take schemes designed to save jobs and provide job opportunities were at the core of the NESP.
She said the implementation of the scheme began on September 10, 2020, beginning with the payroll support, artisan and transport support schemes.
She said the scheme is targeted at 333,000 artisans and transport business operators who would receive N30, grant each with each state presenting 9009 beneficiaries.
She said only operators with membership of registered trade associations or clusters, who have Bank Verification Numbers, bank account and drivers license or other valid forms of identification would benefit.
She said they came to Aba to interact with the leadership of various associations with the view of getting ideas to improve the operation and implementation of the scheme.
He said the funds were grants given free and urged the leaders of the associations to help register their members and verify them accordingly.
Katagun was represented by a member of the NESP Steering Committee, Mr Obadigbo Okonkwo.
A participant who represented Aba Wood Workers Association, Mr
Ifeanyi Onyelowe said that the programme should help people support their businesses if properly implemented as they were told.
He however asked why government should take three months from the time of their registration to give them N30,000 when the money has been marked out already by the federal government.
