The Federal Government, through its Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), has spent no fewer than N2.086 billion for a total number of 20,919 students of higher institutions across the North-West States.
Mukhtar Lawal Tsagem, Director, National Orientation Agency, Katsina State Directorate, who on Tuesday in Katsina State, highlighted the achievements of President Bola Tinubu’s administration in the North-West to include agriculture, security and education.
He disclosed this during the one-day sensitisation programme at the Federal Secretariat, Katsina, in the North-West milestone, organised by the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation.
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According to him, “In the North-West zone, which is our focus, the Federal Government made its presence felt at least in the area of agriculture and security.
“In Kebbi State, Wheat farmers in 12 Local Governments were
supported via the NAGAP programme. Ginger Farmers in Kaduna State received N1.6bn in support. The N2bn Yawuri Water Scheme is one of the infrastructural projects of the Federal Government in the North-West.
The NELFUND programme, where students of higher institutions in the country receive interest-free loans that will help them pay school fees and cater for their study needs.
Under this scheme, 8,978 students of FUDMA are targeted with N909m for them. 5,451 students of Federal University Dutse are to receive N593 m. N578m is for 6,490 students of Danfodiyo University, Sokoto. The first batch of students who applied for the loan from the institutions has started enjoying the loan”.
He, however, did not disclose the number of students from Katsina State benefiting, noting, “In Katsina, UMYUY and the School of Nursing have started enjoying
while others are in the process”.
The Director hinted that one of the major functions of the Federal Ministry of Information
and National Orientation was to keep the general public informed
about the Government programmes, activities and policies as well as mobilising them to support and appreciate the same.
“We are fully aware that the current leaders have inherited problems, some of which are highly resource-consuming ones. Security and
economic problems are on top of the list, however, with the
With the withdrawal of fuel subsidy and similar other economic initiatives, we can see that both tiers of government are now executing projects.
Adamu Muhammed, lecturer at the Department of Public Administration, Hassan Usman Katsina Polytechnic, in a paper presentation, said the North-West region should continue to be grateful to the President Tinubu administration for its laudable projects.
“I want to call on them to cultivate goodwill with him and his government so that the North-West can continue to reap the benefits of this goodwill. Reaping the dividends of democracy, and for the North-West, also to show competitive citizenship.
“It’s not every problem you run to the federal government. You have the local government, you have the ward councillor, you have the legislative councillor, you have the members of the state house of assembly, you have the members representing the national assembly, and the states, but you cannot join your hands together and do it.
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“And it is a problem. You have people representing the popular masses at the grassroots being given hundreds of millions every year and they are squandering the money doing nothing”, he said.
He further condemned those who are against Tinubu’s developmental stride, urging them to desist. “Does it make sense? It doesn’t. You have a traditional system of ru,l,e, which is, for all purposes, more abundant and dysfunctional. What are you doing to revive it, to make it functional? You can control a few young people from becoming addicts, becoming rascals, or becoming prostitutes.
“Nigeria has been packing a lot of national surplus. Now it’s time to save the system so that you yourself can be saved. If the system breaks down, these masses come out of the sea. North-West are seeing the dividends of democracy in Tinubu’s administration”, he added.
