Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has donated N20 million to Maiduguri flood victims and called on the various governments in the country to make a settlement plan on buildings to stop people from building on waterways to avert the recurrence of the recent flooding in Maiduguri and Jere environs, which left many lives lost, while property worth billions of naira were destroyed with several residents displaced.
The ACF also called on well-meaning individuals, organisations and government bodies to intensify their support for communities devastated by the flooding in Borno State, saying that the magnitude of the destruction caused by the flood is beyond imagination.
The chairman of the ACF Board of Trustees, Bashir Dalhatu, made the call yesterday in Maiduguri after leading members of the forum alongside its chairman, Mamman Mike Osuman, on a sympathy visit to the Borno State governor, Babagana Zulum over the flood disaster.
He emphasised the urgent need for more assistance to mitigate the catastrophic impact of the floods on the lives of many residents.
While acknowledging the commendable efforts by individuals and organisations that have already provided aid, the chairman stressed that more still needs to be done.
“We deeply appreciate the generous contributions from kind-hearted individuals and groups, but given the scale of the devastation, it is clear that more support is urgently needed to address the overwhelming challenges these communities face.
“ Our visit to Borno State was to condole with the good people of Borno over the flooding, which has displaced thousands and caused significant damage to homes, farmlands, and infrastructure, has left many families struggling for survival.
“We have visited the governor where we expressed the same sentiment. We also visited the Shehu of Borno to express our condolences. We shall also embark on visits to areas still submerged by floodwaters to assess the needs firsthand and ensure that assistance is directed to the right places,” he said.
The ACF also called on the federal government to scale up intervention efforts in flood-ravaged areas and urged relevant agencies to improve disaster management and preventive measures to avert future occurrences.
