Terrorism in Nigeria caused by poverty – Governor Uduaghan

       

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State

 

Delta State Governor launches micro-insurance scheme in Asaba
The Governor of Delta State, Emmanuel Uduaghan, on Wednesday said terrorism in Nigeria was caused by poverty especially among her youth. Dr. Uduaghan said Nigeria ignored its ordinary citizens for too long thus producing a pool of youth who have now been recruited as kidnappers, armed robbers, terrorists and assassins.

“Over the years, we have ignored poverty. We have not paid attention to the people at the lower rung of the society,” the governor said while launching the Delta State Micro Insurance Scheme (DMIS) in Asaba on Wednesday. “The youth have become a pool of people being recruited to become kidnappers, armed robbers, terrorists and assassins. It is not a problem we can solve in one day, but, we can start from somewhere.

“The terrorism we are having in Nigeria today is as a result of poverty, we have neglected poverty for so long. And in Delta State, we are committed to this micro-credit scheme which has helped us to empower our youth and remove them from this pool of poor persons.” Dr. Uduaghan said jobs should be created for youth to be positively engaged. He, however, noted that it was impossible for government or available industries in the country to provide employment to its army of youth. He explained that his administration devised the micro-credit scheme to empower Deltans and that it had made them employers if labour.

While describing scheme as the first of its kind in Nigeria, Dr. Uduaghan observed that many of its beneficiaries, notably farmers incurred incalculable losses as a result of the flood which ravaged the state in 2011. According to him, they suffered the losses because their business where not insured.
He said the insurance scheme would forestall such experiences in the future and that the state government for a start would pay premium until when the business owners fully embrace the concept of scheme.

“Insurance companies have become more committed and are paying claims. We need to insure our micro businesses. Delta State is taking the lead in this area of insuring micro business in the country,” Dr. Uduaghan added. In her speech, the Commissioner for Poverty Alleviation, Anthonia Ashiedu attributed the successes recorded with the micro credit programme to Dr. Uduaghan’s passion for poverty reduction in the State.

Ms. Ashiedu explained that the DMIS policy, among other objectives, was aimed at providing protection for micro entrepreneurs, and ensure business sustainability in the event of unforeseen circumstances. The Commissioner, National Insurance Commission, NAICOM, Fola Daniel, lauded the state government for the initiative and assured that its beneficiaries that the insurance companies would pay their claims within a period of fifteen days in the event of any damage.

“This is an insurance that is accessed by low income operators, the NAICOM would withdraw the license of any insurance company who fails to pay claims and also prosecute the owners of the companies for economic sabotage,” he said.