For transparency, include us in disbursement c’ttee – Owners of looted businesses tell AbdulRazaq

Owner of businesses affected in Friday looting have asked the Kwara state governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to include some of their members in the disbursement committee to ensure coordination and transparency.

Ahmed Lawal Ahmed, speaking on behalf of the business owners during a meeting with the governor on Tuesday appreciated him for his prompt intervention, adding that the government’s intention to make fund available for them is a strategic move to restore their glory.

AbdulRazaq had earlier announced N500m recovery funds to assist businesses affected in the incident.

For his part, the governor urged them to register on the state website as they had earlier been advised and said modalities are in place to ensure that only people with genuine cases benefit.

“Your sector is really important to this government. That is why we decided to engage you when we saw what happened to bring you back as quickly as possible,” he said, reiterating that small and medium scale businesses are key to economic development.

“On our part we have the modalities for what we want to do. That is why we asked you to go to the website and fill the form. We mentioned a number as the amount to assist you. It could be more than that. It may be lower than that. But that is the benchmark. When we look at the data you send in and your claims, we will decide who to give grant to and those we will give interest-free loan to.

“We are also talking to one or two banks to make funds available for interest-free loans, with long term repayment plans.”

He condemned the attempts to politicise the incident from some quarters, adding that whatever political ambitions anyone may have are achievable only in a stable and peaceful environment.