Groups commend Lagos for setting up SME recovery fund for looted stores

The Lagos chapter of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, a socio-cultural group, and the Yoruba Renaissance Movement & Greater Lagos Initiative, have commended the state government for the recovery fund initiative set up to compensate persons whose stores were vandalised.

In a joint statement signed by Solomon Ogbonna, chairman of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Lagos, and Adeniyi Olutimehin, president of the Yoruba Renaissance Movement & Greater Lagos Initiative, the groups commended its members for ensuring that the two ethnic groups enjoy the benefits of brotherhood.

Obafemi Hamzat, deputy governor of Lagos, had announced the recovery fund initiative on Friday.

He had explained that the programme would be handled by the Lagos state employment trust fund (LSETF) to provide relief for persons whose stores were vandalised as a result of the #EndSARS crisis.

The trust fund was introduced under the LSETF Law 2016 to provide financial support to residents of the state to mitigate the effects of unemployment.

According to the groups, the initiative is a welcome development, considering the impact of the widespread violence in the state, following the #EndSARS protest.

“We urge our people to refrain from any act that will imperil this historic handshake across the Niger. We also thank the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for showing leadership and for carrying all Lagosians along even in these very difficult times,” the statement read.

“We especially thank the Lagos State Government for initiating a programme to compensate those who lost properties during the crisis, and urge our compatriots to utilise this opportunity to restart their lives.

“We urge the affected to approach the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Lagos State Committee on Compensation for assistance in this regard.

“We urge the protesters to sheath their swords as all stakeholders join hands to address their salient demands.”

The groups also cautioned its members to refrain from any act of violence or inciting statement that can lead to disintegration.

“We are shocked at the carnage that beset our country over the last few days. We are especially saddened by the loss of lives and wanton destruction of property. We commiserate with all our bereaved compatriots and pray for the repose of the souls of all those affected by the crisis,” they said.

“We also commiserate with the Lagos State Government on the huge loss of lives and property witnessed in the state.

“We thank Ndigbo in Lagos State for being good ambassadors of the Igbo people and for being law-abiding. We thank our Yoruba people for shunning all divisive rhetoric and purported ‘Quit Notice’ order, and for refraining from acts that stoke the embers of discord and disunity.

“We commend our people for committing afresh to the newfound bond of brotherhood between Ndigbo and their Yoruba brethren.”