The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, says the Coalition Against COVID-19, will unveil its support for business owners whose premises and goods were looted by hoodlums during the unrest that trailed the #EndSARS protests last month.

He also said the Bankers’ Committee and other key stakeholders in the private sector under the auspices of CACOVID would rebuild 44 police stations destroyed in the unrest.

Emefiele stated this in Lagos on Monday at the inauguration of an eight-man recovery committee led by the chairman of Citibank Nigeria, Yemi Cardoso.

A statement on Monday by Gboyega Akosile, Chief Press Secretary to Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, quoted the CBN governor as saying, “I am pleased to note that the Ca-COVID Alliance will, over the next week, be unveiling a blueprint that will provide details of our planned support that positively affect households and businesses.

“This is in addition to measures that will create millions of jobs for our youths over the next five years. Many parts of the country were affected by the unrest but Lagos remains the worst hit.

“The Ca-COVID Alliance is fully aware of the vital relationship between security and a prosperous economy. The damage done on police stations in different parts of the country can undermine provision of adequate security, which is vital to households and businesses.

“The Ca-COVID Alliance is committed to the rebuilding and rehabilitation of all the 44 police stations destroyed in the unrest. More than half of the police stations are in Lagos; funds will be provided to rebuild these stations.”

Also, Cardoso promised that members of the rebuilding committee would give their full commitment to the recovery process, pointing that the best decision Sanwo-Olu took was to get the private sector involved in the rebuilding effort.

“The task may seem tough and arduous, but it is not unachievable. We will do it,” the statement quoted Cardoso.

Other members of the rebuilding committee are the Managing Partner, Olaniwun Ajayi LP, Konyinsola Ajayi, SAN; Chief Executive Officer of Sterling Bank, Abubakar Suleiman; Co-Founder and CEO, Flutterwave; Gbenga Agboola; Vice Chairman, Standard Chartered Bank, Bola Adesola – all representing the private sector – and a representative of an International Donor Agency.

The Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Sam Egube, and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Jimi Hotonou, are members of the Board representing the public sector. (The Punch)

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