• To give victims non refundable grant
Following the recent looting and burning of several shops and stores at Circle Mall in Lekki by hoodlums, the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has promised to help the tenants and shop owners bounce back to business, and help with tax break.
Speaking on Sunday during a condolence visit and meeting with tenants and shop owners at the Mall in Lekki, Governor Sanwo-Olu said the Lagos State Government would give tax break and some financial assistance to all the business owners affected by the ugly incident.
It would be recalled that some hoodlums went on rampage on Wednesday October 21, following the shooting of unarmed peaceful #EndSARS protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate on Tuesday.
Hoodlums were said to have looted properties worth billions of naira at Circle Mall and also set parts of the building ablaze.
Speaking on his administration’s readiness to assist those affected by the destruction in Circle Mall, Lekki, Sanwo-Olu said Lagos State Government would not leave the people to bear the pains alone.
He pledged that the Government would assist them to return to their respective businesses.
The governor further said that the State Government would give all business owners in the burnt Circle Mall tax break of PAYE and also appealed to the Federal Government to ensure that they get tax relief from the Federal Internal Revenue Services (FIRS).
In the words of Sanwo-Olu, the State Government would give victims of the Circle Mall financial support, which will be in form of grant or loans to cushion the effect of the looting and destruction of their respective shops and stores.
Sanwo-Olu said the grant support is a non refundable financial support to the victims, emphasising that the affected businesses are not expected to pay back while the lending support would be in form of a loan.
Sanwo-Olu revealed that he is already discussing with some financial institutions to assist people with zero interest loans.
The governor, however, asked the shop owners to reach out to the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF) while urging them to use the opportunities being provided by the agency in assisting people who are in business, especially small scale businesses.
He further implored people on reorientation of value system and civil responsibility for everybody to be agent of positive change in their community and anywhere they found themselves.
Reiterating his administration’s commitment to security of lives and property in the state, Sanwo-Olu hinted that Lagos State will no longer tolerate hoodlums looting and destroying government and private businesses and properties.
He said though the Lagos State Government could not stop people from coming into the state, the Governor warned people with criminal intentions to go elsewhere before being smoked out by the Government.
The governor said his Government is ready to encourage people who are in Lagos for business and would go extra mile to protect businesses in the state.
Speaking earlier, the tenants at Circle Mall, thanked the governor for showing empathy in the face of daunting challenges.
They, however, requested he assisted them financially so as to get back on their feet.
They also appealed to Lagos State Government to strengthen security around the Circle Mall to prevent future occurrences of the two attacks they suffered in the last 13 months.
