President Buhari Authorizes 5 Billion Naira For Boko Haram Victims

President Muhammadu Buhari has commissioned the release of 5 billion naira to support victims of Boko Haram bomb attacks. The Head of Service of the Federation, Danladi Kifasi, will be facilitating the release of the funds which were pledged by the Federal Government in August 2014 as part of the Victim Support Fund (VSF).

President Buhari’s directive was given after a briefing with the the VSF Presidential Committee headed by former Defence Minister, Theophilus Danjuma. Danjuma told the President that 33.54 billion of 55.93 billion naira raised for the victims has yet to be accounted for.

5 billion of the outstanding VSF funds was a commitment from the Federal Government. The rest was raised during a fundraising dinner in August. Danjuma said the VSF currently has N23.33 billion in four separate bank accounts.

Danjuma implored the President to persuade all organizations that made pledges to the fund to follow through with their commitments.

Danjuma told President Buhari that former President Jonathan approved the funds to be incorporated into a Trust Fund, in order to “insulate it from political interference.”

He said that despite the challenge of having the necessary tools and weapons to confront Boko Haram, the Nigerian military has recently gained signficant ground in the war against Boko Haram.

Mr. Danjuma added that the full deployment of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), under the auspices of member-states of Lake Chad Basin Commission, will further contribute to war against Boko Haram, who have killed hundreds of people since the beginning of the Buhari’s administration.

Sahara Reporters