By Onyeje Abutu-Joel
The Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation has appealed to Benue citizens to support President Bola Tinubu’s intervention programmes targeted at cushioning economic hardship in the country.
The information ministry made the appeal during a one-day sensitisation event organized by the ministry in partnership with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) on Thursday in Makurdi..
The ministry also enlightened the citizens on how to access the various intervention programmes of the federal government.
In an address of welcome, the Minister of Information, Malam Idris Malagi said the essence of the sensitization event was to look at the priority areas of Tinubu’s administration getting across to the citizens and getting the feedback from them.
Malagi who was represented by the Benue Director of the ministry, Mrs Esther Ushe pointed out that public support was crucial to the success of all government initiatives and projects.
He said that the Federal Government had introduced policies with a positive impact on the lives of the people, adding that the policies required public support and patience to encourage the government to do more.
“The government has been proactive in its efforts to lift Nigerians out of poverty and excess hardship through its newly introduced interventions which people need to explore.
“Government is highly concerned about the welfare of the citizens, therefore, there is the need for better understanding and patience to pass through the changes,” Malagi said.
In a paper presentation, the Benue Co-ordinator of NOA, MR Bitrus Audu who also doubled as the resource person at the event enumerated the initiatives including the Students Loan Scheme and Consumer Credit Corporation.
Others he said included Compressed Natural Gas, Digital and Creative enterprise, and the Skill-Up Artisan Programme, the National Youths Talent Export programme, National Housing Initiative, NANO Business Support, Nigerian Youths Academy and Micro and Small Business Loan.
Audu encouraged participants to spread the good news of the programmes and to also key into the intervention programmes so as to improve their living standards.
Fielding questions from participants, the resource person disclosed that an applicant for the student loan must be an undergraduate of an NUC accredited Nigerian tertiary institution to qualify.
Declaring the programme open, Gov Hyacinth Alia commended the federal government for the initiatives.
Alia who was represented by his Technical Adviser on Media and Strategic Communication, Mr Solomon Iorpev urged Benue citizens to key into the intervention programmes for improved welfare. NAN
