Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State has approved the sum of N111. 250m for indigenes who are returning to the state for Christmas celebration.

Special Adviser to the governor on Media and Strategy, Chuks Oko, made this known in a statement on Saturday.

He said the released funds cover the transportation of Ebonyians living in Lagos and Abuja to the state for Christmas celebration, and the cost of rice, Christmas gifts and largesse to the selected 1270 Ebonyians living in Lagos and Abuja.

Oko said recipients of the Christmas Empowerment funds must have BVN and phone number, adding that the surpervsion of the payment of the funds will be led by the Secretary to the State Government.

The statement reads: “In a bid to celebrate this year’s Christmas for Ebonyi people at home and in diaspora, Ebonyi state executive council on 13th December, 2022, approved the release of the sum of (N111,250,000.00) covering the transportation of Ebonyians living in Lagos and Abuja to Ebonyi state for Christmas celebration, including the cost of rice, Christmas gifts and largesse to the selected 1270 Ebonyians living in Lagos and Abuja.

“Secretary to the state government, commissioner for trade and investment, commissioner for human capital development and monitoring, commissioner for health and commissioner for special duties were charged by EXCO to supervise the payment of this Christmas empowerment funds to Ebonyians in Abuja and Lagos who must have BVN and phone number.”