From Gyang Bere, Jos
PLATEAU State Governor, Simon Lalong has accused his predecessor, Senator Jonah David Jang of diverting N2 billion meant for poverty eradication programme in the state during his administration.
Lalong stated this during the graduation ceremony of trainees by Apurimac Onus in conjunction with Simon Lalong Empowerment Scheme (SLEMS) skill acquisition programme held at Crest Hotel, Jos, the state capital.
“When my administration came on board, we were confronted by Bank of Industry to a debt of N2 billion borrowed by the previous administration for the purpose of poverty eradication among indigent persons but I told the bank that I will not pay because the money was not used for that purpose,” Lalong said.
Lalong said he has alerted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to help recover the funds misused by the immediate past administration in the state.
He expressed the commitment of his administration to train and empower indigent persons in the state, adding that 3,400 youths, 200 each from the 17 Local Government Areas (LGA) of the state would be trained in various skills before the end of 2017.
Lalong noted that 2,889 citizens had been trained in various skills in an attempt to eradicate poverty among indigenes of the state in 2016.
Country director of Apurimac Onlus, Godwin Okoko, said the organisation has trained over 20, 000 indigent.