Sequel to the consideration and subsequent approval of the recommendations of the Sheik Lemu-led panel on post-election violence in the north, President Goodluck Jonathan has approved the release of a total sum of N5,747,694,780.00 to the victims of the violence.
Presidential Media Advisor, Reuben Abati stated that nine states are to benefit from direct disbursement to those who suffered losses of properties, means of livelihood and places of worship in the post election violence of 2011.
Presdient Jonathan had set up up a Panel of Enquiry headed by Sheik Ahmed Lemu following the post election violence and civil disturbances in some states after the April 2011 elections. It was charged with identifying the spread and extent of losses suffered across the country.
Abati said that based on the report of the Federal Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development that assesssed the extent of damages, “President Jonathan has approved the release of funds to nine of the 14 affected states as follows:
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- N1,973,209,440.0, Kano- N944,827,000.00, Adamawa- N420,089,840.00 and Akwa Ibom – N43,504,000.00, giving a total sum of N5,747,694,780.00
“President Jonathan has also directed that an Implementation Committee for the disbursement of the funds to beneficiaries in the nine states be constituted as follows”.
The composition should incude the Executive Governor or Deputy Governor of the state as Chairman, representative of State Government, Secretary of the Sheik Lemu Panel, representatives of the OSGF and of the Federal Ministry of Lands and Housing.
The Media Advisor 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”, he stated.
