Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has attributed the current spate of terrorism and rising incidence of violent crimes in the country largely to the problem of youth unemployment.
Governor Uduaghan said this during the launching of the Delta State Micro Insurance Scheme (DMIS) in Asaba, noted that lack of employment over the years has created a pool of youths who are being recruited for insurgency and other nefarious activities.
He emphasized that the issue of terrorism in Nigeria today is as a result of poverty, adding that poverty has been neglected for so long, and now Delta State is committed micro-credit scheme which has helped it to empower youths and has helped to remove them from the pool of poor persons.
The Governor disclosed that it is impossible for government or available industries in the country to give employment to the teeming unemployed Nigerians.
He noted that his administration devised micro-credit scheme to empower Deltans and to make to them employers of labour in order that Deltans may be positively engaged.
Governor Uduaghan who described the insurance scheme as the first of its kind in the country observed that many farmers and beneficiaries of the micro-credit scheme incurred incalculable losses as a result of the flood which ravaged Delta State in 2013 because their business were not insured.
He explained that the insurance scheme was therefore born to forestall such experiences in the future, adding that the State Government for a start was paying premium until when the business owners fully embrace the concept of insurance.
Dr. Uduaghan observed that insurance companies have become more committed and are paying claims, noting that it is pertinent that all micro businesses be insured since Delta State is taking the lead in this area of insuring micro business in the country.
The Commissioner, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Mr Fola Daniel had lauded the Governor Uduaghan’s administration for the initiative, assuring that the beneficiaries of the Delta State Micro-Credit Programme should know that in case of damage, the insurance companies will pay their claims within a period of fifteen days.
He informed that the insurance could be accessed by low income operators, adding that NAICOM would withdraw the license of any insurance company who fails to pay claims and also ready to prosecute the owners of the companies for economic sabotage.
The Commissioner, Ministry of Poverty Alleviation in the State, Dr Anthonia Ashiedu attributed the successes recorded with the micro credit programme to Governor Uduaghan’s passion to reduce poverty in Delta State.
Ashiedu explained that the DMIS policy among other objectives is to provide protection for micro entrepreneurs, ensure business sustainability in the event of unforeseen circumstances.
Delta State Government Press Release
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