Federal Government has approved the release of a total sum of N5. 7 billion to nine states for direct disbursement to assist those who suffered losses of property and whose means of livelihood and places of worship were destroyed in the post election violence of 2011.
It would be recalled that the President, following the post election violence and civil disturbances in some states after the April 2011 elections, set up a Panel of Enquiry headed by Ahmed Lemu to, among other things, identify the spread and extent of losses suffered across the country.
Briefing Journalists at the Presidential Villa, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Rueben Abati, who said the money was to be given as assistance to the victims, stated that following the submission of the Lemu Panel’s report and its adoption by the Federal Executive Council, the Federal Ministry of Lands and Housing was mandated to assess the reported losses and damage to property in all affected states.
He also said following the ministry’s report, the president gave the approval for the release of funds to assist nine out of the fourteen states.
Beneficiary states and amount allotted to them include:
Bauchi -N1,574,879,000.00,
Sokoto – N55,888,506.00,
Zamfara – N93,253,485.00,
Niger – N433,375,875.00
Jigawa – N208,667,634.00,
Katsina – N1,973,209,440.00
Kano – N944,827,000.00,
Adamawa – N420,089,840.00
Akwa Ibom – N43,504,000.00
This amounts to a total of N5,747,694,780.00
Mr. Abati also noted that families of victims who died during the crisis have been identified and will be taken care of.
Mr. Jonathan also directed that an Implementation Committee for the disbursement of the funds to beneficiaries in the nine states be constituted.
The committee comprises of the Governor or Deputy Governor of the respective states as chairmen, with representative of the State Government, the Secretary of the Lemu Panel, representative of the office of the SGF, representative of the Federal Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development, as members.
The presidential spokesman stated that inspection and assessment of damages and losses suffered are yet to be carried out in Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Kaduna and Nasarawa states as modalities and further instructions for the exercise are still being expected from the state governments.
“Funds to cover the losses sustained by victims of the post election violence in theses five states will be approved and released at the conclusion of the assessment exercise,” Mr. Abati said.


South East Reporters

Follow Us on Twitter@southeast reporters
Facebook.com/southeast reporters
southeastreporters@ gmail.com