The Chairman of Apapa Local Government, Mr Owolabi Adele, on Wednesday disbursed N16 million to 160 small business owners, as part of the empowerment programmes of the council.
Adele made this known while presenting cheques to the beneficiaries and distributing equipment to the graduating students of the 7th Skill Acquisition Programme of the council in Lagos.
According to him, today’s event is remarkable in the sense that we are empowering 160 small business owners in our local government and also graduating 48 students who learnt various skills.
“The purpose of this is to make you self-reliant and self-sufficient.
“We advise you not to do party but rather to invest in profitable venture.
“When this is done, you will be able to contribute your own quota by paying your levies, rate and taxes to the government,’’ Adele said.
He said that 30 of the beneficiaries were dropped according to the committee due to non-genuine business names, while 160 people qualified for the grants.
Adele also noted that that the council would empower another 48 graduating students of the Skill Acquisition programme with different equipment of hair dressing, fashion design, cosmetics, hats and beads, and textiles, so that they would be independent.
He said that the council also had to introduce special welfare package for staff by given a grant of N1 million to 30 staff members in a month to improve their livelihood and increase their attitude to work.
He said that the council engaged in free medical check-up of its staff as well as extending such gesture to all residents in all the five wards in Apapa.
Adele said that over 33 companies had refused to pay their tax, saying that the council would arraign them before the court on Thursday to achieve its revenue target for 2019.
He said that the council was presently sponsoring over 70 students within the area in higher institutions.
According to him, the council has been able to rehabilitate failed portions of our roads such as: Fatai Aromire, Ojora Oloye, Azare, Payne, Onire, Forcados, Arakan and Park Lane.
One of the beneficiaries of N100,000, Mr Muhammed Dayyabu, a Tailor, commended the efforts of the council and promised not to divert the money to other things.
Also Miss Mistura Sanni, one of the 48 graduating students, who learnt hair dressing, appreciated the council chairman on behalf of other students. (NAN).
