FG plans N30bn support fund for terror victims

Arrangements have reached an advanced stage by the Federal Government to float a N30bn support fund for victims of terrorism across the country.

This was one of the major decisions taken during the Tuesday meeting of the Council of State, presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan and attended by the country’s former leaders.

A competent government official, who pleaded anonymity, disclosed this to State House correspondents on Wednesday.

The source said the fund, which would be launched before the end of the month, would be floated by the government, in collaboration with the private sector and other concerned stakeholders.

He said the idea was that the Federal Government would be contributing N10bn to the fund overtime, while state governments are also expected to jointly contribute another N10bn.

The government official added that the money would be used to assist victims of the Boko Haram sect and other acts of terror across the country.

He said the government would be approaching Gen. Theophilus Danjuma to chair the fund, while Mr. Fola Adeola had been pencilled down to serve as the deputy chairman.

He said, “The Victims Support Fund will be officially launched before the end of this month. A date has not been fixed yet. The fund will be used to support victims of Boko Haram and other acts of terror across the country, like in Southern Kaduna and the rest.

“It will be used to rebuild schools, to assist widows, to provide support for orphans, among others, in order to show that government cares. It will be done in collaboration with the private sector and other concerned stakeholders.

“The target is to raise N30bn. The Federal Government will contribute about N10bn while state governments are also expected to put in another N10bn. We are approaching Gen. T.Y Danjuma to be chairman of the fund, while Mr. Fola Adeola will be the deputy chairman.”

The source said the fund was just one out of a total package the President was putting in place to reduce the effect of terrorism on the people.

He named two other programmes so far put in place by the government to include the Safe School Initiative, which was inaugurated on Wednesday as well as the Presidential Initiative in the North-East.