Nigeria: Yobe Spends N130 Million On 200 Tricycles for Women

Damaturu — The Yobe State government has spent N130 million to procure 200 tricycles, popularly called keke napep, for some women in the state.

The state’s Commissioner for Youth and Sport, Alhaji Yarima Bularafa said the gesture was aimed at providing means of transportation for the beneficiaries and providing jobs for the unemployed youths in the state.

Speaking yesterday after signing the contract agreement with Cirrus Global Nigeria Limited, the commissioner said, “It is part of the progressive effortS of this administration to enhance women’s wellbeing and advance human dignity that Yobe State government decided to procure the tricycles at the cost of N130 million. However, going by the contract agreement, 40 percent of the money would be paid to the contractor now, and the balance to be paid within the stipulated period of completion, that is, one month”.

He said as part of the contract agreement, the contractor would supply what he called Indian-made bajaj tricycles, adding that “The logo of hijab (veil), the picture of the state governor and name of the ministry must be inscribed on them”.

He also disclosed that the government had trained over 500 unemployed youths in the state for different trade and skills acquisition programmes.