Leadership, April 26th, 2013 --

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday announced that he had approved the release of N5,747,694,780 to nine states of the federation to be directly disbursed to victims of the post-election violence of 2011.

The amount is meant for direct disbursement to those who suffered losses of properties, means of livelihood and places of worship in the said post-election violence.

A breakdown shows that Katsina will receive the highest of the fund, with a total of N1,973,209,440.007, while Bauchi, the second highest beneficiary, will get N1,574,879,000.002.

Kano State is to receive N944,827,000.008, while Niger State is to get N433,375,875.005. Adamawa State is to receive N420,089,840.009, while Jigawa State will collect N208,667,634.006. Zamfara State is to receive N93,253,485, while Sokoto State will get N55,888,506.003. 004. Akwa Ibom State comes last with the sum of N43,504,000.00 earmarked for it, bringing the total amount to N5,747,694,780.00.

Special adviser to the president on media and publicity Dr Reuben Abati, who gave the hint while briefing State House correspondents yesterday, also disclosed that other states that were also affected by the post-election violence are yet to receive their own assistance from the federal government because they are yet to be inspected. They are Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Kaduna and Nasarawa states.

To this effect, Abati said, “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 these five states will be approved and released at the conclusion of the assessment exercise.”

The presidential spokesman also disclosed that President Jonathan has also directed that an implementation committee for the disbursement of the funds to beneficiaries in the nine states be constituted.

Members of the said committee in each of the states include executive governor or deputy governor as chairman, representative of state government as member, secretary of the Sheik Lemu panel as member, and representative of the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development as member.

The post-election violence and civil unrest in these states after the April 2011 election had compelled President Jonathan to set up a panel of enquiry headed by Sheik Ahmed Lemu to, among other things, identify the spread and extent of losses suffered across the country.

After the Lemu panel had submitted its report, which was adopted by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), the Ministry of Lands and Housing was mandated to assess the reported losses and damage to properties in all affected states.

Abati said it was based on the ministry’s report that President Jonathan “approved the release of funds to nine of the 14 affected states”.