Member, representing Minjibir/Ungogo Federal Constituency, Kano State Hon. Sani Ma’aruf Nass (Mai Wake) has debunked the mischief by some of his traducers who have linked his Mega Empowerment Programme of N270,000, 000 cash grant to the cash squeeze acasioned by the Naira redesign policy of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
Speaking at a press conference in Kano, the lawmaker explained that on 2nd of April, 2022, he organised a Mega Empowerment Programme in collaboration with Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) and Hamada Microfinance Bank.
During the event, he said the sum of Two Hundred and Seventy Seven Million Naira (N277,000,000) Cash Grant was disbursed to Seven thousand persons (7000) from the constituency in addition to Ten Thousand 50Kg Bags of Beans.
Unfortunately, he said the video and the images of the event are now being wrongly and mischievously circulated in the social media with unfounded accusations of relating it to the pressure from the recent New Naira Note Redesign Policy introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on November, 22nd 2022.
According to him, “The dubious intention of the perpetrators who planted such lies is to blackmail or tarnish his good image as well as undermine the effort of his good representation which is unprecedented in the history of his constituency.
“We wouldn’t have responded to such envious and cheap propaganda due to the motive of the sponsors but for posterity and to set the record straight for the general public.
According to him, his empowerment program was attended by dignitaries from within and around Kano State and was duly reported by local and national media houses like the Rahama TV, Premier Radio, Solacebase, Aminiya and Justice for Watch Newspapers among others during the period under review.
He said for the record N277m was disbursed for 7000 persons which amounted to N50, 000 each which he said is far below the maximum of 5 million naira stipulated by the Money Laundering Act.
“Equally, the program was actually carried out on the 2nd April, 2022 as stated earlier which is at variance with the later propaganda that the cash was brought out as a result of the recently introduced currency redesigning policy that is barely 3 months old.
“The evidence of Banner, Video and Images from the venue with dates are there for everyone to see.”
He urged the public to disregard the rumour and ignore the perpetrators but take into account his quality representation of the people with good intention which has brought democratic dividends to the people in total departure from the past.
“What we have done in terms of infrastructures and empowerment has never happened in the history of the Constituency from 1999 till date.
The empowerment package he said, is not even the first but the third time during his four year tenure.
“It is on record that 63 Mass Transit Cars were distributed to the people in addition to 200 Motorcycles, 200 Sewing Machines , 200 Grinding Machines and 200 Irrigation Generators while 1000 women were given N10, 000 each through NDE as grant to start up their businesses in 2021.
He said 50 persons got N60,000 through SPW, 300 got N30,000 through CCT also 500 persons were trained on GSM repairs in partnership with SMEDAN among others
In the educational sector, he pointed out that standard ICT Centre was built in Rangaza Town, Blocks of over 100 classrooms altogether were built in various locations across the constituency in addition to furniture and teaching or learning materials given to Primary School pupils.
“Recently 50 students were given Scholarship to proceed with their NCE program.
“A world class Primary Healthcare Centre was built including residential apartments for Doctors with Solar electrification and Borehole wate.”