Fraud scandal hits Dangote’s N10bn grant to women

Aliko Dangote
Aliko Dangote

Allegations of fraud have hit the distribution of N10 billion Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) micro-grant to women in Katsina State.

Governor Aminu Masari raised alarm over the weekend that women across the 34 councils of the state have been shortchanged by the distributors of the fund.

He spoke at Malumfashi Council as state lawmaker Aminu Ibrahim, who represents the area, disbursed N5,000 each to select 1,000 women.

The Aliko Dangote Foundation had on January 23, 2020 flagged-off the distribution of N34 million in micro-grant to 34,000 vulnerable women across the state. Each beneficiary was to get N10,000.

The N34 million is part of the foundation’s nation-wide empowerment of vulnerable women, as N10 billion had been set aside for the purpose.

The women were alleged to have been underpaid.

Masari said he got reports that some of the women received N8,000 each, some N6,000, while others got as low as N1,000.

He warned that the government would take necessary action against those found wanting in distributing empowerment packages to the less-privileged.

The governor said he was optimistic the empowerment package in Malumfashi would not be siphoned by those assigned to disburse it.

Masari called on the beneficiaries to use the funds to engage in trade and other profitable ventures to improve their living standard.