President Bola Tinubu has announced the creation of a disaster relief fund to assist Nigerians impacted by floods and other disasters in the country.

Tinubu said the relief fund is already expedient as the climate becomes more unpredictable and many places in the country are vulnerable to its vagaries.

The president announced this at the Borno Government House in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, on Monday, September 16, 2024, 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, saying: “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 and put it as disaster relief fund, which will include all of you, we will be activating and strengthening our sense of belonging.”

Tinubu thanked Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, who is also Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, Sokoto State Governor Ahmad Aliyu, and Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo and other governors who, he said, look beyond party lines to bear the burdens of others.

Tinubu in Maiduguri to condole flood victims

Tinubu, who stressed that Nigeria’s diversity should spur prosperity, extended his sympathy to the government, 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,” he added.

Tinubu, therefore, commended Borno State Governor Prof. Babagana Zulum, for prompt intervention and the Theatre Command of the Nigerian military for the evacuation that saved many lives.

On his part, Zulum thanked the President for the visit and commended the prompt intervention of federal government agencies in evacuating stranded victims.

At the palace, the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Ibn Umar Garba El-Kanemi, thanked Tinubu for the honour of visiting the state after Vice President Kashim Shettima had earlier represented him.

The Shehu of Borno urged the president to investigate the cause of the Alua Dam collapse and overflow into the town to prevent a recurrence.

The Star