President Bola Tinubu announced a disaster relief fund on Monday in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, to assist Nigerian citizens impacted by floods and other disasters.
He said the relief fund is already expedient as the climate becomes more unpredictable and many places in the country are vulnerable to its vagaries.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who accompanied the Nigerian leader on the visit, said the National Assembly would collaborate with the Executive to establish the fund.
Announcing the fund at the Government House when he visited the state to sympathise with the government and people over the recent flooding from Alau Dam, the President urged the private sector to contribute to the fund.
President Tinubu visited the Shehu of Borno, an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp at the Government Secondary School in Maiduguri, and had a drive-through of the areas affected by the disaster.
He 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 (Federation Accounts Allocation) and put it as disaster relief fund, which will include all of you, we will be activating and strengthening our sense of belonging”.
The President thanked Kwara State Governor, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, who is also Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum; Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, who doubles as Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party’s Governors’ Forum; Sokoto State Governor, Dr. Ahmad Aliyu; and Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo; and other governors who look 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 and 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 state governor, Prof. 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 added.
President Tinubu 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.
Zulum thanked the President for the visit and commended the prompt intervention of Federal Government agencies, particularly National Emergency Relief Agency 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 Vice President Kashim Shettima had earlier represented him.
The Shehu urged the President to investigate the cause of the Alua dam collapse and overflow into the town to prevent a recurrence.
