President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced a disaster relief fund to assist Nigerian citizens impacted by floods and other disasters.
The flood, which was triggered by heavy rainfall for several weeks, overflowed the Alau Dam, wreaking havoc in many areas, displacing thousands of residents and destroying thousands of homes, farmland, infrastructures and equipment, including machines and amenities.
Announcing the planned relief fund during the visit to the state, President Tinubu said this became expedient as the climate becomes more unpredictable and many places in the country are vulnerable to its vagaries.
The president announced this Monday at the Government House Maiduguri when he visited the state to sympathise with the government and people over the recent flooding caused by Alau Dam collapse, urging the private sector to contribute to the fund.
The president visited the Shehu of Borno, an Internally Displaced Persons camp at the Government Secondary School in Maiduguri, and was also driven through the areas affected by the disaster.
The Nigerian leader arrived at 3:40 pm and proceeded to one of the emergency camps to sympathise with the flood victims.
President Tinubu assured the displaced persons at the camp that his government would provide support.
“I want to assure you that we will support you. We will help you. God bless you,” Tinubu said.
“After my visit to the Shehu of Borno and the IDP camp, I have been reflecting on how to tackle this kind of disaster and the effects of climate change.
“There must be a disaster relief fund. I will invite the private sector to team up with us and help rebuild the affected areas.
“If we take a small percentage from FAAC and put it as a disaster relief fund, which will include all of you, we will be activating and strengthening our sense of belonging,” he said.
The President thanked Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara state, who is also Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Bauchi state Governor Abdulkadir Bala Mohammed, Sokoto state Governor Ahmad Aliyu and Kogi state Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, and other governors who looked beyond party lines to bear the burdens of others.
He said that Nigeria’s diversity should spur prosperity.
The president extended his sympathy to the government, the people of Yobe state, and all the states affected by flooding and pledged his government’s continued support for victims of natural disasters.
“For all the people of Yobe State, I sympathise with you. We will create an outstanding programme for Nigeria to recover from this calamity. We will build our nation together,” the president assured.
The president commended the Governor of Borno state, Professor Babagana Zulum, for his prompt intervention and the Theatre Command of the Nigerian military for the evacuation that saved many lives.
“I am glad that Prof. Zulum has been a very active governor. Let me assure you that we will be with you, Borno State and share the burden.
“This disaster was a natural one. It was not the making of anybody. We cannot pass the blame. We pray that the Almighty Allah will receive the souls of the departed and grant them eternal rest.
“May God also overlook their shortcomings and misdeeds on earth,” he said.
The president commended all the ministries, agencies and security outfits, particularly the military, involved in evacuation and relief, and recognised the international organisations working in the state.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who accompanied Tinubu on the visit, said the National Assembly would collaborate with the executive to establish the Disaster Relief Fund.
In his response, Governor Zulum thanked the president for the visit and commended the prompt intervention of the federal government agencies, particularly NEMA and the military’s theatre command, in evacuating stranded victims.
At the palace, the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Ibn Umar Garba El-Kanemi, thanked the president for the honour of visiting the state after the Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, had earlier represented him.
The Shehu of Borno urged the president to investigate the cause of the Alua dam collapse and overflow into the town to prevent a recurrence.
Also on ground to receive the president’s entourage were Minister of Agriculture Abubakar Kyari, Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Mele Kyari, as well as Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun, who arrived earlier in the day to inspect police facilities affected by the flood.
…NAAS, others donate N552m
Meanwhile, stakeholders from Borno state, including members of the National Assembly representing various constituencies of the state and others, have donated N552 million to support the flood victims.
The donation was announced in Maiduguri at a joint press statement issued and signed by the APC deputy national chairman, (North), Dr Ali Bukar Dalori, and made available to journalists Sunday evening in Maiduguri.
The donors include: Senator Ali Modu Sheriff who donated 100 Million, Hon Dr Ali Bukar Dalori (50 Million), Senator MT Monguno (50 Million), Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan(50 Million), Hon Aliyu Betara(N100 Million), Senator Ali Ndume(50 Million), Hon Abdulkadir Rahis(N25million), Hon Ibrahim Abuna(N25million), Hon Usman Zannah(N10million), Hon Engr Bukar Talba(N10million), Hon. Yerima Lawan Kareto(N2 Million), Abdussalam Kachallah (N100 Million), Awari Usman Alkali(20 Million), and Senator Maina Ma’aji Lawan who donated 10 Million.
Governor Zulum expressed his gratitude to the donors and called for further support from other stakeholders, including the private sector and international organizations.
Similarly, Governor Mohammed of Bauchi state, also led a delegation to condole with his Borno state counterpart.
During the visit, Governor Mohammed, so far, announced the highest donation of N250 million, in addition to deployment of Bauchi State Emergency Management Agency (BASEMA) officials who are currently cooking and serving food to over 10,000 victims in some camps on daily basis, pending when the situation improves.
Addressing Governor Zulum at the Government House Lodge II in Maiduguri, Governor Mohammed said: “We are here to commiserate with Your Excellency and the good people of Borno state over the monumental flood disaster.
“On behalf of Government and the good people of Bauchi state, we are donating N250 million to cushion the current hardship of the victims. This is in addition the BASEMA team I sent who are currently feeding over 10,000 displaced victims on daily basis.
“We pray Allah to grant Aljannatul Firdaus to Souls of those who lost their lives, and to forestall future occurrence of such disaster.
Responding, Governor Zulum appreciated the Bauchi State Government delegation for not only finding time to visit Maiduguri, but to also gave the highest donation so far..
…Ndume donates N50m, urges more support
Speaking in a statement Monday, Ndume, while lamenting the plight of the victims, called on the federal government to consider the flood disaster a national issue and create emergency feeding centres for the victims.
The senator who commended the state governor for creating over 25 camps for the victims, said the Ramat Square in Maiduguri would be a good place for such, adding that emergency feeding is standard practice worldwide in times of emergency such as flooding.
He said to avert the humanitarian crisis resulting from a high level of displacement of citizens still surging the IDP camps, the federal government should proactively collaborate with the state government and make food available by opening up a bigger feeding centre by contracting volunteers.
The senator, who noted that nobody would understand the magnitude of the destruction done by the flood to the lives and property of citizens until the person moves round the affected areas, said the destruction was more than the state government alone cannot handle.
He solicited for the support of wealthy Nigerians, NGOs and good-spirited citizens to support the Borno state government in addressing the destruction caused by the flood in Maiduguri and its environs.