Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has debunked the claim that the Federal Government has agreed to pay the sum of N4.75b to members of Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff and Cattle Dealers in Nigeria.
Bello said no particular amount has been settled on to pacify the aggrieved northern traders.
He said this against the background of the claim by AUFCDN President, Muhammad Tahir, that the union decided to end food blockade to the South following the Federal Government’s promise to pay 4.75 b as compensation to the union.
He also said the government has agreed to stop multiple taxes and ensure protection of their members, among others.
Meanwhile, Bello, who had earlier said the northern traders were not asking for too much from the Federal Government, stressed the need for the traders to be compensated for their losses.
The Kogi State Governor said this while featuring on Channels Television’s Programme ‘Politics Today’.
“The Amalgamated union crisis has been resolved and there are demands and one of the demands is compensation. As I speak to you now, there has not been any number or figure put forward or I have advanced to the Federal Government for compensation; it is just an agreement in principle that okay, we have heard you, please sheathe your swords, return back to your food supply.
“So, no figure has been ascertained at all. At least, there should be names, there should be police reports and worth of properties damaged and that has not been given to me by now.
“What Mr President has directed is that I should liaised with the police and other security agencies to ensure lives are secured and that extortion stops.”
When asked about the N4.75bn compensation demanded by AUFCDN and when the government would pay the traders, the governor said, “There are demands, about four of them and one of them is compensation. Amount to be compensated will be determined as days pass by. Remember there were lives and properties that were destroyed during #EndSARS and the Shasha massacre. So, all these have not been determined. It is not easy, so they couldn’t have come up with a number.
“As soon as the numbers are put forward and we are able to aggregate and verify, we shall push it forward.”
Members of AUFCDN had blocked the movement of cattle and foodstuffs from the Northern part of the country to the South for almost a week over what they described as incessant attacks on their members in the South and extortion by security agents on highways.
But they called off the strike on Wednesday following the intervention of the governor and a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode.
