“It’s not just akara, FG is also empowering tomatoes seller” – Remi Tinubu Replies Critics

Remi Tinubu speaking on Monday at the inauguration of the Abubakar Maje Haruna Hall at the Emir of Hadejia’s Palace in Jigawa State, said beneficiaries of the government’s intervention through her office include traders of tomatoes, pepper, vegetables, and roasted plantain known locally as bole.

Her comments come just days after she was chastised on social media for promoting akara, roasted corn, and kuli-kuli businesses as viable means of income for women in the face of the country’s economic woes.

Doubling down on her remarks, the first lady stated that the federal government had granted N100 million to the Jigawa state government to assist 2,000 small traders.

“And I know they have been talking about what I said, akara. In addition to akara, we have tomato dealers. We have bole, and those who sell peppers and veggies for us at the market; we will continue to empower them and increase their resources so that their trade may be truly sustainable,” she stated.

Tinubu stated that each beneficiary would receive N50,000 to recapitalise their businesses as part of measures to make them viable.

She also stated that the administration will not be intimidated by criticism of the programme.

“I know all the folks who are affected, and they appreciate it. And we are not scared by all of these false reports. But we are moving on and ensuring that our people are being cared for,” she said.

The first lady also encouraged young Nigerians to pursue opportunities in agriculture, stating that the country had huge untapped potential outside of the oil sector.

She used an orange orchard she just observed in Benue State to illustrate the prospects available in agriculture.