In line with the promise of the Federal Government to direct the resources of the partial removal of oil subsidy to investments in critical areas of need that will stimulate economic growth and citizen empowerment, Burutu Local Government Area. Delta State,  has empowered 82 youths and have given one hundred thousand naira cheques to ten physically challenged persons.

The 82 youths who have completed their training in fish farming at Songhai Amukpe, Sapele received their started parks of surface ponds, fish feeds and one thousand fingerlings each at the flag-off of the Subsidy Reinvestment Empowerment Programme held in Burutu, while the ten physically challenged also received their cheques of one hundred thousand naira each.

Flagging off the Subsidy Reinvestment Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), yesterday at the Burutu Local Government Secretariat, the Commissioner, Directorate of Local Government Affairs, Barrister Neworld Safugha assured the people of Burutu that the programe was geared towards eliminating idleness from each local government area in the country.Representing the Commissioner, Mr. Bobi Frank, Director, Inspection Monitoring Services in the Directorate of Local Government Affairs, Delta State said SURE-P was designed by the Federal Government as a palliative to cushion the effect of the partial removal of subsidy on Petroleum products with a view to mitigating its impact on the poor and disabled in the society.

He said; “Accordingly, part of the funds saved from oil subsidy is transferred through SURE-P, to provide employment opportunity for our people at the grassroots, especially community services, youths and people with disabilities.”

The Commissioner thanked the effort of the Transitional Committee Chairman of Burutu, Navy Captain Buckman Deinne, for putting in place laudable programmes that will no doubt make the people become self reliant and self sustaining and self employed.

Earlier in his opening specch, the Burutu Transition Committee Chairman, Navy captain
Buckman Deinne (Rtd) commended President Goodluck Jonathan for his sincerity and transformation agenda which he said was impacting positively on the lives of ordinary Nigerians.

He also commended Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan for his prompt release of funds to local government for the implementation of the SURE-P programme in Delta.

Navy Captain Dennie (Rtd) also assured the people of Burutu local government of their commitment in transforming the council in line with the three point agenda of peace and security, human capital and Infrastructural development of the state government.

According to Council Chairman, Burutu Local Government Council had mapped out critical areas of implementation and a number of persons to benefit from the initial flag-off.

He said the Council had already established and equipped five tailoring Training Institutes with twenty students each at Kiagbodo and Tuomo towns.

He said; “We intend to train one hundred persons in our tailoring institutes. One hundred sewing machines will be provided for the one hundred successful trainees. Also a training programme for the production of Boxer Shorts for men for one hundred persons is in progress with a view to establishing a factory in future to handle the production of uniforms, coverall etc.”

“In the area of fishing scheme, eighty-two youths were selected from the local government areas and were trained at Songhai Amukpe, Sapele. They have graduated and will be empowered today to start what I term “Pilot Aqua-culture Scheme” in Burutu Local Government Area,” he added.

In his brief remarks, the Zonal Coordinator, SURE-P, Delta South, Ahaji (Barrister) Isa Clark said that SURE-P had eight main components which include construction of roads, railway, provision of water, agriculture, technology, social safety network etc, adding the federal government had laid emphasis on the negative impact which will be brought about by the partial removal of oil subsidy in the country.

He said the programme which had been flagged off in some other parts of the state, was not a selective programme but a programme that will benefit all citizens in Delta State irrespective of their religious or political affiliations.

He also called on the beneficiaries to make the best use of their opportunities afforded them, noting that the only way people will believe the government is working is for them to show value for what have been given to them.

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr. Niye Prelade thanked President Jonathan, Governor Uduaghan, the SURE-P coordinators and the council Chairman for the making them benefit for the programme, saying that they will also want other youths in the council to benefit in the future too.