The Federal Government has announced approval for the release of the sum of N5,747,694,780.00 for disbursement to people who lost their means of livelihood as well as places of worship across nine states of the federation during the post-2011 election violence.
According to Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati, the move is in compliance with recommendations of the panel set up to review the crisis, chaired by the Sheikh Ahmed Lemu.
Abati assured that government will continue to protect the interest of those who died in the crisis, saying citizens of Bauchi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Niger, Jigawa, Kastina, Kano, Adamawa and Akwa-Ibom states would benefit.
After the violence that followed the 2011 elections, President Jonathan had inaugurated a panel of enquiry to identify the extent of damage and make recommendations.
In the report of the committee adopted by the Federal Executive Council, the Federal Ministry of Lands and Housing was mandated to assess the reported losses.
“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; and Jigawa, N208,667,634.00,” Abati said, adding that others are Katsina, N1,973,209,440.00; Kano, N944,827,000.00; Adamawa, N420,089,840.00 and Akwa Ibom N43,504,000.00.
“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,” he also said.
“Funds to cover the losses sustained by victims of the post election violence in these five states will be approved and released at the conclusion of the assessment exercise.”
Abati further explained that according to the president’s directive, executive governors or deputy governors of the respective beneficiary states would chair the Implementation Committee for the disbursement of the funds to beneficiaries; representatives of the state government, Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development are members; while the secretary of the Sheik Lemu Panel would serve as secretary.
