Foundation donates N10m to Gombe market fire victims

By Peter Uwumarogie

A Non-Governmental Organsation known as Velocity Humanitarian Foundation, on Friday, donated N10 million to support victims of Monday night’s fire, which razed the Gombe Timber Market.

Chairman of the foundation, Malam Adamu Ibrahim who presented the cheque to the leadership of the market on Friday, also sympathised with victims of the inferno.

He said that the incident had drawn the attention of the organisation’s founder Engr. Aliyu Mohammed, who consequently, directed an extension of the support.

According to him, the foundation is focused on impacting lives, adding that the fire incident had compelled the organsation to extend support to victims in line with its objectives.

He also called on well meaning Nigerians within and outside the state, to assist the victims in view of their huge investment lost to the fire.

In response, Chairman of the state’s Timber Sellers Association, Malam Mohammed Ahmadu,, thanked the organisation for extending the gesture, at a time it was most required.

Ahmadu also described as encouraging, the support and well wishes from many residents who had come to sympathetise with them since the incident.

“This N10 million is well appreciated because we need all the support we can get to ameliorate the sufferings of our members since the fire outbreak.

“We thank the founder of the Foundation, Engr Mohammed and their staff, for this donation; we will always remember this good gesture done to us,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ahmadu said that the association had resolved to acquire a transformer specifically for use of members, which will be turned off after business hours to prevent a reoccurrence of electricity-related fire.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the fire outbreak destroyed over 60 shops and goods worth millions.

Foundation donates N10m to Gombe market fire victims

NAF C-130 aircraft, crew arrive Accra en route to Portugal, receive warm reception

By: Zagazola Makama

A Nigerian Air Force (NAF) C-130 aircraft and its crew have arrived at the Air Force Base in Accra, Ghana, after departing Bobo-Dioulasso in Burkina Faso earlier on Friday.

Zagazola reliably gathered that the aircraft is scheduled to proceed to Portugal on Saturday as planned for a flight maintenance mission, official sources said.

On arrival in Accra, the NAF crew and aircraft were received by officials of the Ghana Air Force and representatives of the Nigerian Embassy in Ghana.

A defence source told Zagazola that the reception illustrated the cordial military-to-military relations and longstanding diplomatic ties between Nigeria and Ghana.

We in Nigeria, extend our appreciation to the Ghanaian Government and diplomatic officials for the warm reception and support extended to the Nigerian NAF crew.

NAF C-130 aircraft, crew arrive Accra en route to Portugal, receive warm reception

Gombe Govt restates commitment to MSMEs growth

The Gombe State Government, on Friday engaged stakeholders in the finance sector towards easing access to credit and ensuring the growth of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the state.

Malam Muhammad Magaji, the state’s Commissioner of Finance and Economic Development stated this in Gombe while declaring open the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER) Programme, themed: “Guide to Access Credit”.

Magaji said that the meeting was aimed at creating an environment conducive for business growth by removing the bottlenecks around accessing finance.

He said that the administration of Gov. Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State has prioritised the development of businesses and industries to drive economic prosperity for the state, create jobs and improve the wellbeing of residents.

Magaji who was represented by Mr Jalo Ibrahim, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Economic Development said that the state is now more deliberate in supporting small business owners to grow.

According to him, Yahaya-led administration’s commitment to MSMEs growth is to ensure inclusive growth of the economy in view of the role of such small businesses to economic transformation.

“We are engaging the financial institutions and relevant stakeholders to see how we can remove the barriers affecting access to credit to SMEs in the state.

“This is part of the current administration’s commitment to strengthening access to loan facilities that would give life to small businesses and help more youths start up businesses.

“We are very committed as a government to see to it that we provide all the needed supports to make doing business in Gombe State easy.

“Government will inject more money into the system to serve as collateral for business owners and also serve as guarantor to those who are willing to access finance,” he said.

On his part, Alhaji Nasiru Aliyu the Commissioner for Trade, Industry, and Tourism,
Gombe State restated the state government’s commitment to industrialising the state and attracting investors.

Aliyu said that Yahaya’s administration had invested a lot to boost industrial growth and turn the state into the industrial and evonomic hub of North East.

Mr Kabiru Tsoho, the SABER focal person for Gombe State said that the SABER Programme is a World-Bank project aimed at easing businesses towards accelerating the growth of the economic sector.

Tsoho said the engagement would help remove impediments to accessing finance and encouraging business growth.

“This will help improve business environment and encourage investment which would provide more opportunities for jobs to be created and for economic empowerment of women and youths,” he said.

Mr Sanusi Abdullahi, Chairman, Traders Association of Nigeria, Gombe State chapter commended the initiative by the state government and World Bank to make doing business easy.

Abdullahi said with improved access to loans, there would be more youth employment and improvement in the standard of living of residents of the state.

Gombe Govt restates commitment to MSMEs growth