HIGH CORRUPTION in Buhari's Katsina as Govt Buys 720 Goats For N102m To Enpower Women

The RT. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari; The Executive Governor of Katsina State

The Katsina state government has disclosed that as part of it women empowerment initiatives, it has procured 720 goats for women in the state.

The empowerment scheme was made possible as a result of a N2 billion loan the Aminu Masari administration obtained from the Central bank.


What is entirely curious about the scheme is that the Katsina state government claims it cost N102 million, to buy the 720 goats. That simply translates to; N141,666.6666666667 per goat.


Seemingly justifying the cost of the scheme, Masari said at a press conference yesterday, ’The goats are insured for one year and veterinary officers will be going round all the LGAs to provide medication that may be necessary,’’

We are wondering, how much could it possibly cost to buy and insure one cow?

Alhaji Abdulkadir Nasir, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Economic Empowerment, disclosed this on Tuesday in Katsina at the launching of the programme.
He said that each of 240 women selected across the 34 local governments would be given two female goats and one male goat.

The official said that the animals, which were purchased in Niger Republic, were of highly reproductive and good for breeding.

“Research has showed that the goats reproduce twice a year and give up to two liters of milk daily.

“The goats are also insured for one year and veterinary officers will be going round in all the local governments to provide medication to the animals if the need arises,’’ he said.

Nasir said that the animals were being given to the beneficiaries under a loan scheme and the cost was expected to be repaid after a year.

He urged the beneficiaries not to sell the animals and ensure their proper care.

Nasir also said that the government had disbursed N30 million to 1,890 physically challenged people across the state to establish small-scale businesses.

He said that the government had also empowered one physically challenged from each local government area with a shop, generator, charging board, recorder and N20,000 worth of recharge cards to engage in business.

The special adviser said that N340 million was also disbursed to various organised trade associations in the state, all in efforts to boost small and medium scale enterprises in the state.

Gov. Aminu Masari said that the loans were part of the N2 billion loan obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for the development of Small Scale and Medium Entrepreneurship.

He said that loan attracted nine per cent interest rate and would be paid by the state government.

Masari urged the beneficiaries to utilise the loans judiciously.

Malama Maryam Abdullahi, one of the beneficiaries, commended the government for initiating the scheme.



But 24 hour later, the Katsina state government in a bid to counter the negative publicity generated by the empowerment news on Wednesday said it purchased a total of 4500 goats in total as against 720 reported, the Senior Special Assistant on Social Media Abdulhadi Bawa has said.

In a statement, Bawa noted that the Special Adviser to the Governor on Women and Youth Empowerment, Alhaji Abdulkadir Nasir was misquoted to have said that the 720 was for each of the 34 local government areas.

According to him, the breakdown of the goats are that 3 women from each of the 316 wards of the State would be given 3 goats totalling 3,249 goats.

“Another 1251 goats was set aside for interested groups and individuals who have interest in animal husbandry. This brings the total of goats purchased to 4500 against the erroneous figure of 720.”

He said, The total number of the 3,249 goats was shared among the 3 senatorial zones of the state in Tambu, Daura senatorial zone, Kabomo, Funtua senatorial zone and PPU in Katsina metropolis, Katsina senatorial zone.

We will keep you updated as more information is made available by our reporters.



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