Beneficiaries of the N160 million soft loans approved by the Delta State government for the procurement of motorcycles and tricycles for operators have started collecting them to boost transport trade and better their welfare.
Fielding questions from newsmen shortly before the commencement of the distribution of the 129 of the new motorcycles to members of the Commercial Motorcycles and Tricycles Operators Association, in Ughelli yesterday, the State Secretary of the association, Comrade Emmanuel Afatakpa, stated that it was the turn of members from Delta Central and Delta North to collect their motorcycles, adding that the association has distributed motorcyes and tricycles to their members in Delta North before now.
He said, “We are all gathered where trying to distribute the motorcycles purchased by the Delta State Commercial Motorcycles and Tricycles Operators Association, from the loan given to us from His Excellency, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa.
“Previously we have distributed 128 tricycles at Ababa. We are now distributing to local governments in Delta Central and Delta South which have not gotten theirs.
“Today, we are distributing 129 motorcycles. They are given out for N240,000 each. This include the purchase cost, coupling, licensing, insurance and little administrative cost, the Secretary said, adding that “by our calculation each beneficiary will have to be paying back N5,000 every week for the duration of one year.”
According to the Secretary, a beneficiary stands to gain an additional incentive of N20,000 rebate if he can complete the payment within ten months.
He also assured that the motorcycles were covered by comprehensive insurance, adding that failure to meet up with the terms and conditions of payment will lead to the recovery of the bikes by the association.
Also speaking at the occasion, the State treasurer of the association, Comrade Prince O.K. Miller thanked Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa for the gesture, stressing that it was unprecedented.
Said he: “In fact, the man, His Excellency, Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa is God-sent. We have not had it this good. We thank him.
“We also congratulate him for his victory in the governorship election. Victory for him is victory for all Deltans.”
Beneficiaries who spoke to newsmen thanked the governor for the kind gesture, assuring that with the liberal terms and conditions of repayment, they would not have difficulties of compliance.
