Tina Akannam
13 August 2008
JIGAWA State coordinator of National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP), Alhaji Usman Alto Roni has called on the Federal Government to compliment the state's poverty alleviation effort through priority attention.
Alhaji Alto made this appeal during a civic reception organised for him by the staff of NAPEP. He assured that he will not relent on effort to eradicate poverty in the state at all level.
He noted that though Jigawa is said to be one of the poorest states in the country, it is endowed with highly skilled manpower, natural mineral resources and fertile land that make the people self reliant.
His words, "It is common knowledge that our people are some of the poorest in the country. This is unfortunate and we must work hard to reverse the situation. With the unwavering commitment of our Governor, I assure you that we shall reverse the situation in a very short time".
Speaking during the occasion, the state secretary of NAPEP in Jigawa, Mr Joseph Shehindemi, described the appointment of the former state chairman of Jigawa PDP as the new coordinator of National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP) as agood thing that will complement Governor Sule Lamido's effort to eradicate poverty in the state.
According to him, Jigawa is one of the lucky states in the country that is blessed with a seasoned grassroots governor and NAPEP coordinator who are deeply concerned about the level of poverty in the state and are determined to save the people from it.
"Governor Lamido a man truly concerned about the level of poverty in the state. I have also seen practical efforts to reverse the situation, similarly, Alhaji Roni a man who is also passionate about serving the people, and I am sure that as NAPEP state coordinator', he added.
He charged the people of the state to take advantage of the determination and commitment of the duo by cooperating with the state government on its programmes and participating fully in the agency's poverty eradication programmes to better their lots.
The state Secretary noted that it is only by participating in such programmes that the citizenry can give life to state and federal government efforts, stressing that "if the people fail to participate in poverty eradication programmes, they cannot enjoy the benefits of the programmes. And, this would limit the success of the programmes."
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This previous comment was unfortunate and misguided.What the the CBN governor was trying to advocate was the idea of having free access to National Wealth by every Nigerian citizen whether located in the North or South or West etc .The NAPEP is a national programme for all underprivellege and needy Nigerians to be able to counter the bitter pills of poverty. Lest we forget that most of the national wealth is owned and controlled by the so-called Southerners , and the truth is never allowed to come out because they control the media.Shame on you if still you think along tribal and sectional lines.
There is abject poverty all over Nigeria NOT ONLY IN JIGAWA STATE. For the Federal Government to focus on an isolated state or focus on the northern states, as the governor of the Central Bank was trying to elucidate, will make overt the sectionalism or TRIBALISM in the polity which is the cause of the problem in the Niger Delta. The Federal Government has to view the country globally and come up with a comprehensive solution to remove poverty from the country as a whole.