Buhari releases N5bn for victims support fund for Boko Haram victim

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed Head of Service of the Federation Danladi Kifasi to facilitate the immediate release of the N5 billion which the federal government pledged last August for terror Victims Support Fund.

Buhari gave the directive at the State House in Abuja yesterday after receiving a briefing from the Victims Support Fund committee headed by a former minister of defence, General Theophilus Danjuma (rtd).

Former president Goodluck Jonathan had inaugurated the committee last July to provide a framework for all people and institutions to help mitigate the sufferings of the victims of the Boko Haram insurgency.
Danjuma told Buhari that out of the N55.92 billion pledged at the fund-raising dinner for the Fund, N33.54 billion was still outstanding, including N5 billion from the federal government.
He said the Victims Support Fund currently has N23.33bn in four bank accounts and that his committee received approval from the last administration to incorporate the fund into a Trust Fund, to “insulate it from political interference.”
Danjuma also urged President Buhari to use his office to persuade all organisations and individuals to honour their pledges to the committee.
Buhari charged the committee to ensure proper coordination with other government agencies providing support and assistance to victims of terrorism.
The president assured that his government was taking proactive steps to defeat terrorism.
He said despite the challenge of acquiring much-needed strategic equipment and weapons, the military had recently gained much ground in its efforts towards defeating and degrading Boko Haram.
Buhari also stated that the full deployment of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF), under the auspices of member-states of Lake Chad Basin Commission, would further boost ongoing military operations against the insurgents.
Addressing State House journalists later, Danjuma lamented that one year after, his committee had not been able to achieve much as only N23 billion had so far been redeemed.
Describing the amount realised as a drop in the ocean compared to the needs, he said even if terrorism ends, displaced people would be looking for support to go back to their homes and the money available would not be enough to assist them.