By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Kwara State Social Investment Programme (KWASSIP) said it has received a total of 342 applications for the N500 million small and medium enterprise (SME) recovery fund announced by the state government.
Last month, the Kwara State government announced the establishment of N500 million fund aimed to assist owners of shops, malls and others looted by hoodlums in the state.
Governor of Kwara State, Mr AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, had during a visit to the Kwara Mall and Agro Mall explained that the funding package was to reduce the negative impact the looting could have on the economy.
“We are setting up a N500 million fund for those that were affected to access.
“The application form is live and active on the state government’s website and can now be filled by interested parties. We are going to get them back as soon as possible,” the Governor had said, while owners of affected businesses were given till Tuesday, November 3, 2020, to apply for the fund.
On Wednesday, November 4, 2020, the acting General Manager of KWASSIP, Mr Mohammed Brimah, disclosed in a statement that 342 business owners registered for claims.
“The application for the SME recovery fund closed midnight Tuesday, November 3, with 342 business owners filing varying claims of loss,” Mr Brimah was quoted as saying in the statement.
However, he noted that, “The government will next appoint a committee comprising persons of impeccable character, including civic groups, to work with insurance adjusters to verify the claims and ensure a transparent disbursement of funds to claimants.”
He assured that “the process will begin this week and everyone concerned will be contacted in due course.”
