The councillor representing Mayana Ward in Gusau, Abubakar Muhammad Tahir, has reportedly distributed bags of charcoal and locally made pressing irons to residents as part of what was described as an empowerment programme.
According to Nasarawa Daily News, the items were given to beneficiaries to help them start petty trading and small-scale ventures that rely on charcoal and charcoal irons. The outreach was said to specifically target constituents within Mayana Ward.
The development has sparked mixed reactions online, with some people defending the gesture as practical support for low-income residents, while others criticised it as inadequate and lacking long-term impact.
The initiative also adds to a pattern of similar empowerment programmes by public office holders across Nigeria. In May 2024, Rufai Hanga reportedly distributed thousands of white cloth materials and clay pots to constituents in Kano Central Senatorial District.
Earlier in March 2024, Alex Mascot Ikwechegh shared cooking stoves and other household items with residents in Abia State as part of an empowerment drive.
