By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Chairman of the National Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation, Mr Aliko Dangote, has called on Nigerians and stakeholders to support flood victims in Borno State.
The businessman made this appeal when he visited Maiduguri and donated N1 billion to the state through the Aliko Dangote Foundation.
Mr Dangote, who is also the head of the Presidential Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation (PCFRR), also announced the donation of N1 billion from the committee.
He noted that the state needs the intervention of stakeholders for the flood victims, describing the incident as “mindboggling” and exclaiming that he has “never seen a disaster of this scale before.”
“I am moved with pity; I have never seen a disaster of this magnitude before. The state needs urgent help and intervention from well-meaning Nigerians and stakeholders.
“A lot of infrastructural development needs to be done; the houses and roads need urgent attention for people to get their lives back. Again, we are asking that corporate organisations need to intervene and provide succour in every way possible as the government cannot do it alone,” he said.
In his remarks, Borno State governor, Mr Babagana Zulum, appreciated Mr Dangote’s support, stating that he has contributed immensely to the development of the state, adding that he was not surprised to see the business mogul visit the disaster area as a solidarity gesture. He called on well-meaning Nigerians to emulate the businessman in his charitable contributions.
Recall that the flood has displaced over a million residents and about 30 persons have been confirmed dead.
The Director-General of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mr Barkindo Mohammed, stated that “As of 5pm on Thursday, SEMA evacuated 3,683 persons from their homes in a rescue operation. The search and rescue operation is still ongoing.
“The mode of rescue involves motorists, boats, canoes, divers, military, and fire service trucks, among others. As the water continues to recede, we are concentrating on those who make distress calls and will start search and rescue today and tomorrow.”
According to him, about two million people were affected, and so far, SEMA has opened 14 official camps and many informal camps where displaced persons can go. He said that the federal government supported the state with N3 billion in food consignments.
“President Bola Tinubu has supported Borno and other states with N3 billion each. Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has forwarded the money to SEMA, and he has added more on what the federal government gave. We are not only responding to the flood victims in Maiduguri but also in Local Government Areas across the state,” Mr Mohammed said.
In early December 2022, the Mr Dangote-led PCFRR, known as the Dangote Flood Committee, commenced the distribution of relief materials, worth N1.5 billion to victims of flooding nationwide. The PCFRR, which was established by the Federal Government following the 2012 flooding, is co-chaired by him and a renowned legal giant, Mr Olisa Agbakoba.