Unemployment Lifts Terrorism, Violent Crimes- Says Gov. Uduaghan *As Delta Launches Micro Insurance Scheme

LAUNCHING: Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State (right) presenting a cheque for the Insurance scheme to Mr. Fola Daniel (left) and Group Managing Director, MUTUAL Assurance, Dr. Akin Ogunbiji (middle) during the launching of the Delta State Micro Credit Insurance Scheme held in Government House, Asaba

DELTA State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has attributed the current spate of terrorism and rising incidence of violent crimes in the country largely to the problem of youth unemployment.

Governor Uduaghan, launching the Delta State Micro Insurance Scheme (DMIS) in Asaba on Wednesday, April 23, 2014, noted that lack of employment over the years has created a pool of youths who are being recruited for insurgency and other nefarious activities.

“Over the years, we have ignored poverty, we have not paid attention to the people at the lower rung of the society. Theyouths have become a pool of people being recruited to become kidnappers, armed robbers, terrorists and assassins,” the Governor observed, adding, “it is not a problem we can solve in one day, but, we can start from somewhere.”

He emphasised, “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 youths and remove them from this pool of poor persons.”

Display of some products of the Micro Credit Scheme during the launching of the Delta State Micro Credit Insurance Scheme

According to the Governor, jobs should be created for youths to be positively engaged, disclosing that it is impossible for government or available industries in the country to give employment to the teeming unemployed Nigerians.

He disclosed that his administration devised micro-credit scheme which has empowered a lot of Deltans and has made them to be employers of labour as a way to get Deltans to be positively engaged.

Governor Uduaghan who described the insurance scheme as the first of its kind in the country observed that many farmers and beneficiaries of the micro-credit scheme incurred incalculable losses as a result of the flood which ravaged Delta State in 2013 because their business where not insured.

He explained that the insurance scheme was therefore born to forestall such experiences in the future, adding that the State Government for a start was paying premium until when the business owners fully embrace the concept of insurance.

Cross section of the Delta State Micro Credit beneficiaries

Dr. Uduaghan observed, “Insurance companies have become more committed and are paying claims. We need to insure our micro business, Delta State is taking the lead in this area of insuring micro business in the country.”

The Commissioner, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM), Mr Fola Daniel had lauded the Governor Uduaghan’s administration for the initiative, assuring that the beneficiaries of the Delta State Micro-Credit Programme that in case of damage, the insurance companies will pay their claims within a period of fifteen days.

“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,” Mr Daniel said.

The Commissioner, Ministry of Poverty Alleviation in the state, Dr Anthonia Ashiedu attributed the successes recorded with the micro credit programme to Governor Uduaghan’s passion to reduce poverty in Delta State.

Ashiedu explained that the DMIS policy among other objectives is to provide protection for micro entrepreneurs, ensure business sustainability in the event of unforeseen circumstances.