Ike Nnachi, Abakaliki
Ebonyi State Government has lamented the increasing cases of rape in the state, vowing to deal decisively with the perpetrators.
Commissioner for Information, Uchenna Orji, disclosed this to newsmen in Abakaliki at the end of the state Executive Council Meeting.
He said: “EXCO reviewed the unfortunate increase in the rate of rape in Ebonyi State and commended the office of Her Excellency, the Wife of the Governor and the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development for a very beautiful job they are doing in the fight against rape in the state.
“EXCO directed that there should be no sacred cow in the enforcement of the Laws on Rape. EXCO directed that there should be urgent State campaigns against rape in public institutions including churches, schools, markets and other public places.
“EXCO also noted the submissions on increased use of hard drugs in the society and designated Mr. Mark Onu to head the campaign against hard drugs and to go to all joints and market places and to work with police and Ebubeagu Security outfit to apprehend the perpetrators,” he stressed.
Mr Orji also revealed that the Council approved a total sum of N1.8bn for various empowerment programmes.
He said the sum of 900 million Naira was approved for the empowerment of 3000 youths and women while another sum of 900 million naira was released for the NG-Cares Programme for farmers, SMEs, Market Men and Women, Youths, Chamber of Commerce, Public Works Volunteers.
He noted that money was a product of the by-product of the #EndSARS and directed beneficiaries to go to the office of the Deputy Governor for final verification and documentation of their names.
Orji said: “EXCO received the final report on the empowerment of Ebonyi Youths and Women. In the proposal, each beneficiary is to receive the sum of Three Hundred Thousand Naira (N300,000). EXCO approved the final list of 3000 beneficiaries and further set up a committee to prepare a proposal for the launch of the empowerment programme.”
“EXCO also released the sum of Nine Hundred Million Naira (N900,000,000.00) for empowerment which is a by-product of #ENDSARS and directed beneficiaries to go to the office of the Deputy Governor for final verification and documentation of their names.”
“The list shall be forwarded to the office of the Commissioner for Information and State Orientation for publication in at least two National Dailies ahead of the disbursement flag-off exercise. The launch of this programme shall be by first week of August, 2022.”
“EXCO released the sum of Nine Hundred Million Naira (N900,000,000.00) for the NG-Cares Programme and the targets are the farmers, SMEs, Market Men and Women, Youths, Chamber of Commerce, Public Works Volunteers and this shall be disbursed through CSDA, FADAMA and MSMEs under the Ministries of Human Capital Development, Agriculture and Natural Resources as well as Commerce and Industry”, he said
Mr Orji said the Chairman of the Committee is the Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Mr. Orlando Nweze while the Deputy Governor will supervise the exercise.
“EXCO directed that this exercise be completed within two weeks,” he concluded.
