The federal government on Saturday began giving out N10,000 cash as interest-free loan to 5,000 traders in Katsina State.
The loan, which is given out under the federal government’s empowerment scheme, tradermoni and marketmoni, is expected to cushion the economic hardship caused by the novel coronavirus.
There are nine confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Katsina as of April 18.
The empowerment programme was inaugurated in Katsina by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Sadiya Farouq, according to a statement from the ministry.
The minister, represented by a deputy director in-charge of disaster management in the ministry, Abubakar Sulaiman, said the programme commencement followed a directive from President Muhammadu Buhari that some reliefs should be provided for vulnerable Nigerians, including people living with disabilities.