By Hauwa Aliyu Gusau.
The Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, has assured entrepreneurs that the state is on a new path of economic growth, with the launch of the Sustainable Business Enabling and Empowerment for Resilience and Stability (SABER) programme.
Speaking at the JB Yakubu Secretariat in Gusau, the governor said the initiative is designed to revive Zamfara’s economy and ease the way of doing business.
Under SABER, 2,000 small-scale traders will each receive ₦150,000, 1,000 medium-scale enterprises ₦500,000 each, and 60 larger businesses ₦5 million each. The scheme, worth ₦1.1 billion, is supported by the World Bank with funding between $20 million and $52 million running from 2022 to 2026.
Governor Lawal stressed that the programme was carefully planned in collaboration with state agencies and trade associations to ensure fairness and impact. The project is coordinated by the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, with contributions from Commerce, Agriculture, Justice, Finance, and other state institutions.
Director-General of SMEDAN, Charles Odii, commended the governor, noting that empowering 2,000 traders alone could generate thousands of jobs.
