Date: 2020-12-21

The Nation would not forget too soon the looting, insecurity and brigandage that accompanied #END SARS PROTESTS across the some Southern parts of the Country, Abuja and Kwara State in the month of October this year.

These criminal acts include killing of some innocent people including police personnel, looting of Governments stalls where palliative food items were kept and stealing of valuable goods from private stores including Shoprite and other Malls in Fate Area of Ilorin the Kwara State Capital.

FEMTEC - a popular Shop where Mobile Phones, Computer Items and accessories was also touched among others.

Media Reports carried it that in the States where the criminal acts were committed, almost all the Governors of those States announced their desire to render assistance to Private Entrepreneurs and individuals whose goods were carted away and thise whose Business Shops were destroyed.

Governor Abdul-Rahman Abdul-Razaq of Kwara State was among those who made the pledge. No sooner than he made the pledge, registration of the affected victims began with victims stating in clear terms what they lost in their applications.

The cheering news is that of all States affected by the crisis, only Kwara State Governor was reported as at last week to have given succour to the affected by disbursing a sum of over N180 Million so far to the victims. All those given economic relief had their claims verified and confirmed before they were given certain substantial amounts of money according to the level of their losses.

The astonishing aspect is that out of over 350 individuals and companies that registered for the economic relief package, not up to 50% of them showed up for verification; a situation that creates doubt on the genuineness of some of those who refused to show-up.

Governor Abdul-Rahman had reportedly earmarked N500 Million to treat this unfortunate incident by catering for the victims so as to assist them for their business to continue.

This kind gesture of the Governor executed on time is highly commendable! So far, he has been the only Governor that has fulfilled the pledge since the crisis occured about two months ago. The fact that no Media in the Country has commented on this laudable action so far either in the News Commentary, Editorial and Media Interview is to say the least surprising! This is a step worth commendation.

With Gov. Abdul-Rahman scoring 1st in this regard, other States affected must follow suit to show their empathy for the poor businesses that have been ruined across the Country.

May I request the Kwara State Government to fish-out claimants refusing to show-up , perhaps the publicity and search strategy for them is faulty that is why they are not seen. Otherwise, such claims if eventually found to be false, should be questioned further to know the false claimers. Finally, while commending the Governor for this economic sustenance move, I urge him to extend it to areas of other economic needs of the people of the State.

Abdullahi Ibrahim, FCIPM