Matthias Nwogu
Governor Theodore Orji of Abia says he deployed the state’s share of the funds from the Subsidy Reinvestment-Programme (SURE-P) to stop kidnapping and other criminal activities in the state.
Orji made this known to newsmen in Umuahia yesterday while speaking on the gains of SURE-P in the state.
“If there is anything SURE-P has done for us here, it has helped us to fight kidnapping and criminality and I recommend it to other states that are facing security challenges,” he said.
He said youths, who got vehicles, participated in the skills acquisition programmes or engaged in the state farm settlements initiative, had no visible means of livelihood in the past.
Orji urged other governors to utilise the funds set aside for the programme to create job opportunities for the growing population of unemployed youths.
The governor said the SURE-P initiated in 2012 by President Goodluck Jonathan had helped in tackling extreme poverty in the country.
He said Nigeria was capable of constructing new refineries with funds meant for SURE-P and end the importation of refined products.
“We have the capacity to build refineries but before they’re built, which will take between two and three years, people have to be alive.
“Therefore, that money that is saved from the removal of the subsidy should go to the people for them to sustain themselves because things are difficult,” he said.
