How FG is spending Abacha loot – Lai Mohammed

The Minister of Information and Culture , Lai Mohammed , has said that the money recovered from the late military ruler , Gen . Sani Abacha , is not being shared to the poor and vulnerable as widely believed .Rather, he said , the money is being deployed in the financing of Federal Government ’ s social investment programmes comprising four components

He described as “ mischievous ” the insinuations that the government would share to the poor the Abacha loot repatriated by the Swiss Government .

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Mohammed said this on Monday when he paid an official visit to the Abuja office of The Authority newspaper .
“ When the first tranche of Abacha loot was paid under former President Goodluck Jonathan , the Swiss Government found out that the money was re – looted by those in the administration .

“ So , when they wanted to release the next tranche , they put the condition that it must be used for the most vulnerable Nigerians .

“ We said there is no problem . It is the money we are using to finance our social investment programmes comprising four components, ” the minister said .

Mohammed further said that 8 . 5 million pupils in government schools across the country are currently being fed under the Home Grown Feeding Programme .

Similarly , he said , over 400 , 000 families are being paid stipends of N 5 , 000 every month under the Conditional Cash Transfer Programme .

“ The beauty of this programme is that it is being done in collaboration with the World Bank .

“ It is the World Bank and various agencies that determine the beneficiaries and who are the most vulnerable Nigerians . ’’

Mohammed said that part of the money was being used to finance the employment of young graduates through the N – POWER programme .

He said that no fewer than 200 , 000 people had been employed in the first batch and another 200 , 000 would be resuming very soon .

“ The fourth is the Government Enterprise Empowerment Programme whereby market women , craft people etc . , are given loan between N 50 , 000 and N 100 , 000

“ So , when we say this money is being used for the poor people , it is not as if we are sharing it to poor people in the states , ’’ he said .

Mohammed said the Buhari administration would remain accountable and committed to the welfare of the common people .

( NAN )

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