The fund is expected to be used for the rehabilitation of victims of terror attacks across the nation.
The federal government on Thursday realised over N60 billion as individuals and groups donated to the Victims of Terror Support Fund launched in Abuja.
The fund is expected to be used for the rehabilitation of victims of terror attacks across the nation.
Over 13,000 people have been killed in attacks by the Boko Haram sect while hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced and thousands of property destroyed.
Speaking at the fund raising dinner on Thursday Night, President Goodluck Jonathan said his government would neither “give in to nor give up on terrorism” but will rise up to the occasion and “defeat the evil philosophy” which the terrorists represent.
Mr. Jonathan announced the federal government’s donation of N10 billion to the fund.
He said in the fight against terrorists, Nigeria and Nigerians have two choices: to sit down and bemoan the action of terrorists or stand up and fight it.
“By this fund raising initiative, we have chosen the later,” he said.
“Those who are trying to destroy the future of Nigeria on the basis of ethnicity and religion are missing the point. Injury to one Nigerian is injury to all of us. Discomfort to any part of Nigeria is discomfort to the rest of the country.
“We want a peaceful country where everybody is happy. We must all must work to bequeath a country of justice to our children,” he added.
The president said although Nigeria was going through a very difficult phase in its history, the country would triumph over the terrorists.
“Problems do not solve themselves. Lamentations cannot solve problems. We solve problems by standing up and taking actions. Nigerians are equal to the task,” he said.
He noted that the Victim Support Fund is a short-term measure meant to cushion the effects of the terrorists’ attacks on Nigerians, while his government strived to defeat the terrorists.
“We will defeat terror and I will lead Nigerians to do it,” he said; adding that no effort would be spared in ensuring that the abducted Chibok school girls are brought back safe and alive.
The over 200 teenage school girls were kidnapped by the Boko Haram from their school on April 14.
Mr. Jonathan also said that by attacking churches and mosques, the terrorists have proven that they are enemies of all Nigerians and Nigerians must unite to defeat them.
“As Nigerians we must find strength in this trying times. We must redefine our sense of purpose at times like this. We must tap into our sense of unity in the face of this relentless assault from terrorists.
“We cannot determine what terrorists do with their minds but we can determine what we do with ours. We must collectively come together to defeat these terrorists and their evil philosophy,” he said.
Some of the largest donors on Thursday night include Theophilus Danjuma, $10 million;
Aliko Dangote, N1 billion; Jim Ovia, N1 billion; Tony Elumelu, N2.5 billion; Mike Adenuga, N1 billion; Wale Tinubu, N1 billion; Arthur Eze, $5 million; Mohammed Ndimi, $5 million; Kabiru Rabiu, N500 million; Dahiru Mangal N500 million; and Folorunsho Alakija, N500 million.
Others include a group of oil sector players, N17 billion; bankers N15 billion, telecom sector players N1 billion; state governors, N3.7 billion; and ministers, N50 million.
The Victims Support Fund is to be managed by a committee headed by Mr. Danjuma, a former Army chief and one of Nigeria’s richest men.
PREMIUM TIMES
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