Jonathan swears in Victim Support Fund committee

President Goodluck Jonathan, on the 15th of July, inaugurated a committee to steer the Victim Support Fund being established by the Federal Government to take care of victims of terrorists and violence across the country. The Coordinator of the National Information Centre, Mr. Mike Omeri,  told our correspondent that the Federal Government had set aside $30m to endow the fund while the committee would work out the modalities for mobilising fund from the private sector.

He said, “The fund is a public private sector venture. The Federal Government has set aside $30m for the fund. The committee is going to work out the modalities for those that will benefit from the fund.”

Omeri, who is also the Director General of the National Orientation Agency, said children and spouses of soldiers who were victims of terrorism in all parts of the country would also benefit from the fund.

“Everybody who qualifies to benefit from the fund can apply and be assisted from the fund depending on the procedure to be worked out by the committee,” he said.

The decision to establish the fund was reportedly taken at the National Council of States in Abuja last week and General T.Y. Danjuma (retd.) would chair the committee while the Chairman of GT Bank, Mr. Fola Adeola, would serve as the Vice Chairman.

Omeri said given the experience garnered by the Federal Government in raising funds for victims of the tsunami in the past, it was going to do better in raising funds for the victims of terrorism in the country.

On the claim by the Boko Haram leader, Abubakar Shekau, that he ordered the twin blasts that rocked the Apapa fuel depot in Lagos on June 24, Omeri said the Federal Government was studying the video in which the claim was made. -PUNCH