The Zamfara Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ZACCIMA) says it has applied for N20 billion soft loan from the state government to enhance business and economic activities.

The president of the chamber, Hassan Buhari, disclosed this during an interactive session with newsmen in Gusau on Monday.

Mr Buhari said the facility, if approved by the governor, would benefit the micro, small, medium and large-scale business enterprises in the state.

He stated that the information circulating about the loan proposal, including the claim that the governor would not approve a loan for an organisation, was not official.

“The State Government and ZACCIMA have been working together to ensure that our business organisations secured the loan.

“We are ready to ensure that the government’s mission of reviving business and economic activities is achieved.

“Therefore, the public should disregard all the rumours about the issue of the loan proposal,” Mr Buhari said.

According to him, any business organisation, enterprise, or individual seeking information about the chamber’s ongoing efforts to secure a loan should contact our office in Gusau.

“We presented our proposal, requesting N20 billion loan, to Gov. Dauda Lawal for the micro, small, medium and large-scale business organisations in the state.

“After receiving our request, the governor directed us to present it in detail.

“The governor was very happy about it and promised to approve it as part of his administration’s mission to enhance business and economic activities in the state.

“As we all know, one of the top priorities in the governor’s agenda is reviving economic activities in the state.

“We are hopeful he will give proper attention to our request anytime we expect his approval,” he said.

The chamber boss further said that the chamber received applications from various business groups that had registered with the chamber.

“From the microscale enterprises, we have compiled about 1,000 applicants.

“For the small and medium scale companies, we have 585 applicants, while for the large-scale, we received over 200 registered companies.

“The beneficiaries will cover all the applicants from the 14 LGAs of the state,” Mr Buhari said.

“I am, therefore, appealing to the public to desist from spreading fake information about the development of the state,” he said.

(NAN)