President Bola Tinubu has announced the establishment of a disaster relief fund to support Nigerians affected by recent floods and other calamities.
He made this announcement during a visit to Maiduguri, Borno State, on Monday, where he inspected the damage caused by flooding from the Alau Dam.
During his visit, President Tinubu toured the affected areas, including the Shehu of Borno’s palace and an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp at Government Secondary School in Maiduguri. He also conducted a drive-through of the disaster-stricken regions.
In a statement from Bayo Onanuga, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Tinubu emphasized the urgency of the relief fund in light of increasing climate unpredictability and the vulnerability of many areas in the country. He called on the private sector to contribute to the fund to aid in recovery efforts.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who accompanied Tinubu, assured that the National Assembly would work with the executive to establish the fund. Tinubu stated, “After visiting the Shehu of Borno and the IDP camp, I have been considering how to address such disasters and the impact of climate change. We must establish a disaster relief fund. I invite the private sector to join us in rebuilding the affected areas.”
The President proposed allocating a small percentage from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) to the disaster relief fund to foster a collective effort in addressing such crises.
Tinubu extended his gratitude to several governors, including Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, Sokoto State Governor Ahmad Aliyu, and Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, for their bipartisan support in managing the disaster.
He also expressed his condolences to the people of Yobe State and other affected regions, pledging his government’s continued support. “We will create a comprehensive recovery program for Nigeria and work together to rebuild,” Tinubu assured.
The President praised Borno State Governor Professor Babagana Zulum for his prompt action and commended the Nigerian military’s Theatre Command for their life-saving evacuation efforts. He acknowledged the contributions of federal agencies and international organizations involved in relief efforts.
Governor Zulum thanked President Tinubu for his visit and the swift intervention of federal agencies, particularly the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the military. The Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Ibn Umar Garba El-Kanemi, also expressed his gratitude and urged an investigation into the cause of the Alau Dam’s collapse to prevent future occurrences.
