The National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTS) has called on the Federal Government to allow the Freedom of Information Act beam its searchlight on the N500billion loan to the manufacturing sector

Mr Ken Ukoha, NANTS President made the call in Abuja last weekend during a session with journalists on the implication of FoI on Nigeria’s trade and economic development.

“Nigerians have been empowered by the Freedom of Information Act, and it is truly time for us to know where these funds are coming from, who are behind the shady deals, what are the actual costs, benefits of these funds to our economy and of course, what the true measurable impacts are.

Ukoha also said other funds such as the N200billion allocated to farmers under the agriculture investment plan must receive the investigative attention of the media as well. He posited that “an eye needs to be kept on these things to know how much has been spent, who the beneficiaries are, the rate and status of recovery and the impact on the economy.”

Continjuing he said: “The FoI Act is the expression of the present administration’s preparedness to open up itself for democratic and collective governance which gives every one the opportunity to contribute, ask questions, investigate and constructively observe, monitor and engage every bit of policy and programme right from the formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation processes so as to ensure that government truly and effectively delivers on its mandate and promises. With the FoI Act therefore, Nigeria should now be set to speed off on its development agenda.”

Ukoha reiterated that FoI should be a veritable tool in the hands of all citizens to reveal and to disseminate knowledge and information across all strata of development.