Abacha loot to be given to Nigeria's poor

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Abacha loot to be given to Nigeria's poor



Will Ross

Africa editor, BBC World Service


AFP
It's been 20 years since the death of military ruler Sani Abacha
Money looted by Nigeria’s former military ruler Sani Abacha is to be distributed to poor families, the government says.

The distribution is to start next month after more than $300m (£228m) was recently returned by the Swiss authorities.

The money, stolen by Abacha in the 1990s, is due to be given to around 300,000 households through monthly payments of around $14 each.

Some Nigerians have questioned whether this is the best way of distributing the money and there are also concerns that with elections just months away, the gifting of money could be seen as an effort to secure votes.

Read more about the late dictator's life:


Africa Live this week: 25-29 June 2018 as it happened


:patrice:
 

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Honestly, it's the best I can see the Nigerian government doing right now.

There are technically better long-term structural things that you could do with it that would help the poor more, but until they really clear up the corruption and get their economy in order, I don't trust them to do those things without too much of the funds disappearing.

Direct cash giving does some good for the legitimately poor. :yeshrug:
 
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