Borno Flood: Senate, House Donate N174m for Victims’ Support

Adedayo Akinwale, Sunday Aborisade in Abuja and Blessing Ibunge in Port Harcourt

The Nigerian senate as well as the House of Representatives have donated N74 million and N100 million respectively to the victims of the recent devastating flood in Maiduguri, Borno state.

A delegation from the House of Representatives, led by former House Leader, Hon. Alhassan Doguwa, visited Maiduguri, to commiserate with the government and people of the state.

Spokesperson of the House, Akin Rotimi in a statement said those part of the delegation included; former Deputy Speaker Hon. Ahmed Wase, Victor Nwokolo, Fred Agbedi, Sada Soli, Ademorin Kuye, Iduma  Enwo, Aminu Jaji, Bashir Usman, and  Abdulkadir Rahis.

During the visit, the delegation announced a donation of N100 million on behalf of the House  to the government of Borno State to provide immediate relief to flood victims and assist in recovery efforts.

Speaking during the visit, Doguwa said the Green Chamber remained dedicated to supporting the state as it recovers from this disaster.

He noted: “We are here on behalf of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, PhD, and all members of the House to express our heartfelt condolences to the Government and people of Borno State.”

Also, senators have donated N74 million to support the victims of the flood. Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Jibrin Barau, according to a statement by his media aide, Ismail Mudashir, yesterday, disclosed this on behalf of the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, when he led some senators to the state.

Barau said each of the 108 senators would donate N500,000 (N54 million ), while he personally announced the donation of N10 million. The Northern Senators Forum also donated N10 million totalling N74 million.

The senators, who were received by the  Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, included the Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua, Chairman of the Southern Senators Forum, and Senator Mukhail Adetokunbo Abiru.

Others were Senator Ikra Aliyu Bilbis (Zamfara Central), Senator Onawo Mohammed Ogoshi (Nasarawa South) and Senator Sadiq Suleiman Umar (Kwara North).

Also on the visit were Senator Diket Plang (Plateau Central), Senator Babangida Hussaini (Jigawa North-West), Senator Pam Mwadkon Dachungyang (Plateau North), Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno (Borno North) and Kaka Shehu Lawan (Borno Central).

Meanwhile, as flood continuous to ravage communities in parts of the country, the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku has said the commission was building multi-purpose emergency shelters in the Niger Delta region.

Ogbuku, who spoke yesterday, during a press conference at the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, said the shelter were being constructed in Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers states for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), in the event of flood.

The NDDC chief executive officer who disclosed that the project was conceived as a response to the frequent flooding challenges faced by Niger Deltans, said the commission was taking proactive steps to ameliorate the impact of the perennial flood in the region.

He noted that facilities at the emergency shelter would include essential amenities such as a school, hospital, cafeteria, police post, and recreation center, which would provide comprehensive support to the communities in times of distress.

The NDDC boss assured that the commission would intensify its efforts to light up communities across the nine states of the Niger Delta, with solar-powered street lights, as part of measures to fight criminality and maintain peace in the region.

Speaking on the area of entrepreneurship, Ogbuku noted that the NDDC, through the Niger Delta Chambers of Commerce had streamlined engagement in giving support to farmers and verifiable entrepreneurs in the region.

Speaking on the NDDC Youth Internship Scheme, Ogbuku affirmed that entrepreneurial and skills enhancement were key components for unlocking the potentials of the youths in the Niger Delta region.

He said that the objective was to get the youths to acquire meaningful and self-sustaining skills that would improve their lives, support their families and communities and thus ensure peace in the Niger Delta region.