"Plateau lost N75bn to looters" - Governor Lalong

Governor Simon Lalong has revealed that Plateau state lost N75 billion to looters who invaded public and private properties.

The Governor made this disclosure during an interactive session with Plateau youths held at the Rayfield field Government House, Jos.

Lalong who further disclosed that experts arrived at the figure after a preliminary evaluation, affirmed that it might take years for the state government to replace the structures vandalised and items damaged or stolen.

He said;

“The level of destruction and carnage is unbelievable and unacceptable. We are still trying to carry out a comprehensive evaluation of the total cost of the damage. However, the preliminary report by a team of experts I constituted has estimated the losses to be put at about 75 billion naira for now.

“Since coming into power, my administration has remained committed to pursuing the economic development of the state through youth empowerment and job creation.

“You would agree with me that the enormity of the challenges we face cannot be resolved overnight or with a wave of the hand. It is a process that all of us must collectively work together to achieve.”