The initiative of the Federal Government through its Ministry of Trade and Investments to empower Nigerian transporters with Survival funds in 2020 to cushion the negative impacts of the COVID19 pandemic was widely applauded. But Correspondent, SUNDAY ELOM N in this exclusive investigation reports that it is a different tale of woes, about eight months after for beneficiaries in Cross River State as many only received fake bank alerts after losing money to the Abuja team that handled the so-called empowerment programme.

The grant, the purpose, the procedures

IN December 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari-led government launched the Transport Track of the Transport and Artisans scheme under its Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Survival Fund as part of its Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP) to cushion the effect of the Coronavirus pandemic in the country.

Specifically, the Transport Track, which covers rideshare drivers, such as Uber and Bolt, taxi drivers, bus drivers, ‘KekeNapep riders, okada riders and cart pushers is expected to provide a one-off grant of N30,000 to 4,505 qualified beneficiaries operating in the transport sector in each state, including the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.

The Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Amb. Maryam Katagum in March this year (2021), said that as of January 17, a total of 155,920 beneficiaries in the Transport Track had been approved for payment, while 9,109 pending cases were being processed for payment.

Going by the Minister’s pronouncements, it, therefore, implies that N4, 677,600,000 billion has been paid to the qualified beneficiaries under the transport track across the country.

According to the application guidelines as contained in a press release by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity, Office of the Vice President, Laolu Akande, on December 6, 2020, registration for the grant was on a first come first serve basis while beneficiaries were to apply through their registered associations such as the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Keke Riders’ Association, Okada Riders’ Associations/Unions, among others to be enumerated.

Also, state focal persons, project field officers and enumerators were to work with the federal government’s MSMEs Survival Fund Project Delivery Office to accurately identify and ensure that members of the respective associations/unions who applied for the grant are paid.

However, there was further provision for individuals who are members of associations/unions but would prefer to apply directly with the enumerators. Such individual applicants must show proof of membership of an association in order to qualify for enumeration.

Also, Application or registration for the grant was absolutely free, and the grant was to be paid directly into the beneficiaries’ accounts.

The fraud, the tales of woes, the losses

Mr. Ubong Clement looked this reporter straight in the face and said, “Oga journalist, we would have gotten angry at you because your coming here only reminded us of what that woman did to many of us but it is not your fault; you are only doing your job.”

Clement, 32 is an Okada rider in Obudu, Cross River State.

He was among the few transporters in the state who registered for the one-off N30,000 grant of Transport Track under the federal government’s Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Survival Fund approved in 2020 by President Muhammadu Buhari as part of the Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP) to cushion the effect of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the country.

Clement who refused his comments to be recorded said he applied for the grant when a team led by a woman who he said refused to disclose her identity, including her name, visited Obudu early this year but he received a fake bank alert. This, therefore, means that the money was not in their bank accounts even though they received credit notifications.

READ MORE HERE: https://www.icirnigeria.org/how-cross-river-transporters-were-denied-of-fgs-covid-19-fund-support/

How?

It's a pitty