Victims of the Sept. 9 Maiduguri flood disaster that caused heavy destruction of lives and property have commended President Bola Tinubu for establishing a disaster relief fund in response to such disasters.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Tinubu in his National Broadcast on Tuesday to mark the 64th Independent Anniversary, said: ”we have been responding to natural disasters, particularly flooding in parts of the country.
“After Vice President Kashim Shettima visited Maiduguri, I also visited to assure our people that this federal government will always stand with our people in their times of trouble.
“At the last meeting of the Federal Executive Council, we approved a Disaster Relief Fund to mobilise private and public sector funds to help us respond faster to emergencies.”
Some of the victims in Maiduguri who spoke to NAN after the broadcast, said they were happy with the Federal Government and over the prompt support, particularly in areas of food and non food items.
They said as things normalise, they hope for more support from such funds to rehabilitate their houses and restore their sources of livelihood.
“Establishing the fund is a very good idea that deserves commendation as a fast approach to such emergencies,” Julius Kyauta said.
Also, Mohammed Shettima, Bukar Ibrahim and Abdullahi Hala who are farmers, said they lost their properties an farmlands in the flood.
A widow, Hadiza Danladi, who also spoke of support from the fund to farmers who lost everything in the flood, lauded the renewed clampdown on terrorists disrupting farming activities.
She said that degrading the terrorists in Borno would go a long way in providing thousands of farmers to engage in mass farming activities.
“Aside the flood, the security threat is one major thing threatening food security in Borno.
“With active support from the government as promised in the broadcast, we look forward to good tidings,” Danladi said.
NAN reports that Tinubu had on Sept. 16, announced a disaster relief fund in Maiduguri, to assist Nigerian citizens impacted by floods and other disasters.
Tinubu announced this at the Borno Government House when he visited the state to sympathise with the government and people over the recent flooding from Alau Dam.
He urged the private sector to contribute to the fund.
The Borno Government in light of the flood disaster, scaled down celebration for the anniversary and urged for prayers.
“While we celebrate our nation’s independence day, we must, however, focus on supporting and standing in solidarity with those affected by the September 10 flood disaster.
“Let us take this time to pray for recovery and strength, not only for Borno State but for all of Nigeria.”
“Government will redirect resources and efforts towards rehabilitation of infrastructures that were destroyed by the flood and provide relief to our people, ensuring that affected families receive the necessary aid and support,” Gov. Babagana Zulum said.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) pegged the death toll from the disaster at over 30 while more than 400,000 residents have been displaced.
The flood occurred due to the collapse of the Alau Dam, which has been at full capacity.
The floods have also dealt a severe blow to agriculture in the region. Across Nigeria, more than 125,000 hectares of farmland have been destroyed just before the harvest season.
According to the UN, Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states are particularly hard-hit, with 4.8 million people facing severe food insecurity and 230,000 children at risk of acute malnutrition.
Food prices have more than tripled in the past year due to inflation, and the destruction of crops could worsen the already critical situation.