President Tinubu approves ₦25m each for 18 affected business owners as First Lady launches Foodbank Programme in South-South
The Federal Government has approved ₦515 million in relief funds for business owners affected by the August 22 fire at the SPAR shopping mall in Calabar, Cross River State.
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu announced the intervention on Friday during her visit to the state, where she also commissioned the South-South phase of the National Community Foodbank Programme.
She said President Bola Tinubu approved ₦25 million each for 18 affected business owners, totalling ₦450 million, to support their recovery.
An additional ₦50 million was presented to the wife of the state governor, Bishop Eyoanwan Otu, for women’s groups, while ₦15 million was given to women who welcomed the First Lady to the state.
The August 22 fire destroyed several businesses and property reportedly worth billions of naira.
Oluremi Tinubu said the relief package was aimed at helping affected entrepreneurs recover from their losses and rebuild their livelihoods.
Governor Bassey Otu thanked the President and First Lady for the intervention, describing it as timely support for the affected businesses.
He also welcomed the expansion of the National Community Foodbank Programme to the South-South, saying it would help strengthen social protection and tackle food insecurity among vulnerable households.