From Ilorin
Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has announced N500m fund to assist all those whose businesses in Ilorin were looted by hoodlums, as parts of the administration’s efforts to bring them back on their feet following the incident.
The governor said this Saturday evening after he visited various shops and scenes that were looted by the hoodlums.
Speaking in an interview with journalists in Ilorin, the governor condemned “the mindless looting” of people’s businesses in the state capital on Friday, insisting that there was no justification for such criminal behaviour.
During his visit to the Kwara Mall and Agro Mall, the Governor said the incident might bring businesses to their knees as well as cause massive loss of jobs and a surge in poverty rate — implications he said were clearly lost on the “hoodlums.”
He said,“We are therefore not going to leave the business owners like that. We are setting up a N500m fund for those that were affected to access. The application form is live and active on the State Government’s website and can now be filled by interested parties. We are going to get them back as soon as possible.
He described as false, claims that government was hoarding palliatives, explaining the food stuffs stolen at the Cargo Terminal were donated to specific vulnerable households and were being distributed across the state for the private sector-led CACOVID Foundation.
He added that the ones carted away from Agro-Mall were relief materials donated to specific victims of the recent rainstorm and floods in eight local government areas of the state, by the Federal Government.
He said the NEMA had already distributed the materials to at least, four local government areas, adding that consignments for the remaining council areas were due for dispatch when the hoodlums struck.
“What happened was bareface stealing and some people are playing politics with it. This is not the time to play politics. It is a time for all hands to be on deck. It is not just Kwara they wanted to burn down. They wanted to burn the whole country down. I urge all of us to stand up and resist that.
“We engaged the #EndSARS youths in Kwara and it worked out for us. They were not violent. They had a five-point agenda which the federal government has agreed to and has started implementing.
“In Kwara State, we have also set up a judicial panel of inquiry to look into the allegation of Police abuse. I also visited Police barracks to see how we can improve the welfare of the Police in the state.
“While the hoodlums were looting (on Friday), I was holding a meeting with executives and members of the National Association of Kwara State Students and National Association of Nigeria Students, Kwara axis.
“It shows students and youths were not part of the looting. Those involved were just hoodlums and thieves.”
Commending the security personnel for their professionalism, the Governor said the administration was working with security agencies to maintain public order and safety in the state.
Source: All Nigeria latest news.
