Akakan Umoh
A N450 million presidential relief package has been doled to 18 business owners affected by the August 22 fire at the SPAR shopping mall in Calabar, Cross River State.
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu announced this on Friday during the launch of the South-South zonal phase of the National Community Food Bank Programme in Calabar.
Mrs Tinubu said President Bola Tinubu had approved N25 million for each of the 18 affected business owners, totalling N450 million, to help them recover from the losses caused by the fire.
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“Mr. President commiserates with the government and people of Cross River over this unfortunate incident that destroyed many businesses and livelihoods.
“Mr President has asked me to give N25 million for each of the 18 business owners affected. This intervention is to provide immediate support and help victims recover from their losses,” she said.
Tinubu also announced an additional N50 million for women’s groups, which she said was presented to the wife of the Cross River State Governor, Bishop Eyoanwan Otu, while N15 million was given to women who welcomed her to the state.
The August 22 fire at the shopping mall affected several businesses and left owners facing substantial financial losses.
The relief package, according to the First Lady, was intended to provide immediate assistance to the affected entrepreneurs and support their recovery from the incident.
She said the foodbank initiative was a deliberate and sustainable response to food insecurity and malnutrition among vulnerable households across Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers states, adding that the programme targets children under six, pregnant women and lactating mothers.
Foodbank Programme
The First Lady also commissioned the South-South phase of the National Community Foodbank Programme, an initiative aimed at improving food security and addressing malnutrition among vulnerable households.
Senator Tinubu said the programme would expand access to nutritious food for vulnerable families and complement existing government interventions targeted at tackling food insecurity.
Receiving the First Lady, Cross River State Governor, Bassey Edet Otu, thanked President Tinubu and Senator Oluremi Tinubu for the relief package, describing it as timely assistance to businesses affected by the fire.
Governor Otu said the intervention would help the affected entrepreneurs begin rebuilding their businesses and restoring their livelihoods.
He also commended the Federal Government for extending the Foodbank Programme to the South-South region, saying the initiative would strengthen social protection and improve the welfare of vulnerable citizens.
The governor expressed satisfaction that Cross River State was selected to host the South-South phase of the programme, describing it as an indication of the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing food insecurity and supporting vulnerable Nigerians.
