16, 000 applicants seek registration for N-Power Agro loans in Delta

• Commissioner urges unionists to embrace dialogue

No fewer than 16, 000 beneficiaries of the N-power Agro have commenced application for loans from the Delta State Micro-Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency (DEMSMA).

Confirming the development, the Executive Secretary of DEMSMA, Shinute Bello, said the N-power Agro beneficiaries had been given the opportunity to access the loans as long as they were from Delta.

He explained that applying for the loan through the ongoing registration exercise in Abraka was not a guarantee that they would access the loan, adding that certain requirements have to be met for them to qualify for the loan.

However, The Guardian checks revealed that the loan assessment had been difficult for the beneficiaries who had alleged bribe taking and other corrupt activities of those processing the applications.

Some of the applicants alleged that their efforts to register in the N-power had met a brick wall as none of the officials were willing to assist them succeed.

In a related development, the National Press Secretary, Urhobo Progress Union (UPU) Youth Wing, Efemena Umukoro, has charged the representative of Ethiope East constituency in the Delta State House of Assembly, Evance Ivwurie, to empower his constituents to enable them reap the dividends of democracy.

Umukoro, who spoke to journalists in Asaba, said the lawmaker owe his constituents empowerment as a way of appreciating them for voting for him and showing him solidarity during the 2015 election.

Meanwhile, the Delta State Commissioner for Information, Patrick Ukah, has advised unionists to always choose the part of dialogue instead of confrontation while making their demands.

The Commissioner stated this yesterday while playing host to the Executive of Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Information Chapel in his Office.

Ukah argued that for unions to achieve desired goals, it was necessary to employ dialogue, which can only be possible in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility.
He noted that the present government under the leadership of Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa would not toil with the welfare of workers in the state.