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Top Nigerian business leaders have concluded plans to offer N125 billion to the Federal Government to battle insecurity in the country.
Newspeakonline gathered from reliable government sources that the gesture of the private sector leaders in the country was borne out of continued worry over the rising wave of insecurity in the country. But the sources kept names of the promoters of the idea under wraps for security reasons.
Following serious worry over the spate of kidnapping and armed robbery, especially on major roads in the country, it was learnt that the business moguls came to the conclusion that they needed to intervene in the crisis as a way of lending a helping hand to the government in its efforts to secure the country.
A source said the business tycoons concluded that the security crisis was worsening the business environment which they considered unhealthy for their investments across Nigeria.
As concerned Nigerians, the business leaders held series of engagements with the Federal Government during which they offered to provide N125 billion with a firm commitment from President Muhammadu Buhari to add the same sum to make a total of N250 billion.
The sum, according to those with the knowledge of the agreement, will be announced by the Federal Government within the next two weeks with a view to funding a new onslaught against criminality in the country. Targeted are kidnapping, armed robbery and banditry.
Newspeakonline also learnt that the sum will be used largely to acquire technological equipment such as drones and helicopters for surveillance in affected areas.
The business leaders were quoted that their businesses can not continue to thrive in an environment ravaged by criminality. They expressed fear that their businesses will suffer losses if they folded their hands and watch the country totally collapse into the hands of criminals.
A source close to the government said: “The government will soon make the announcement of N250 billion funds to tackle insecurity further. The businessmen believe that though government is trying its best to contain criminality at this time, Nigeria needs their intervention to strengthen government’s hands against the criminals. Apart from helping largely in containing insecurity, they also believe that giving that huge sum of money is a form of an appropriate Corporate Social responsibility (CSR) at this critical moment in the nation’s history. Government has welcomed the idea in the course of their engagements and the announcement will be made soon.”