TheHILL | NEWS | APRIL 11.
Exactly thirteen (13) months to the end of Udom Emmanuel administration in Akwa Ibom, his aide on Trade and Market Matters, Akparawa Idorenyin Raphael, has appealed to his principal to consider one of the many requests of traders.
TheHILL understands that traders in the oil rich State have repeatedly made appeal to the Governor to fulfil the promise he made to them by releasing another tranche of loans to cushion the effect of their losses during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially those of them dealing with perishable items.
Recall that the State Chief Executive had in the wake of the pandemic released N2 billion interest-free loans to the first batch of traders under the cooperative societies and promised to release another tranche of loan for another batch which has remained unfulfilled.
Raphael, who made the appeal on Saturday while speaking on behalf of the traders at a National Summit and Trade Exposition held at Itam Market, Itu Local Government Area, reminded the governor that his promise was yet to be fulfilled.
In other to fill what seems to be a lacuna in Trade and Market Matters, Akparawa Idorenyin Raphael also appealed for the creation of a desk office in all council areas, appointment of supervisors on trade matters in each council and creation of the office of Senior Special Assistant to Governor on Trade and Market Matters to give room for the creation of three offices of Special Assistants to play a supervisory role in the three senatorial districts of the state.
Also speaking, the keynote speaker, Elder Asuquo Jonah, who is the President of Akwa Ibom State Cooperative Federation called for the unbundling of the Bureau of Cooperative Development from the Ministry of Rural Development with increased funding in order for the ministry to cope with pressure and achieve effective supervision in the state.
He further called for the involvement and formation of youth cooperative societies in the state as they have been seen forming various political support groups.
“If the youths are better organized into cooperative economic development groups and be supported to channel their vibrant energies into cooperative businesses as they do in forming political support groups, it will not only increase the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) of the state, but will reduce the problem of unemployment successive governments face in the state,” Jonah said.
