The Borno State government, through Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, has donated the sum of N300 million to victims of the recent flood disaster in Mokwa local government area of Niger State.
Zulum, who led a delegation from Borno to Minna on Tuesday, announced the donation during a sympathy visit to the Niger State Government House. The gesture, he said, was meant to support ongoing relief efforts by the Niger State Government in addressing the devastation caused by the flood.
“This donation is to complement the efforts of the Niger State Government in mitigating the challenges brought about by this disaster,” Zulum said. “It is time for all sub-national governments to work collectively to mitigate the effects of climate change in our society.”
He also called on the Federal Government to take decisive steps to prevent the recurrence of such disasters.
“There is a need for the Federal Government to establish a robust mechanism that would stem the tide of such obnoxious disasters,” Zulum added, as he commiserated with the government and people of Niger State over the loss of lives and destruction of property.
In response, Governor Umar Bago of Niger State expressed deep gratitude to his Borno counterpart, describing the donation as timely and heartfelt.
“This is a show of love,” Bago said. “We appreciate your doggedness, pro-activeness, perseverance and love. This support is coming when we need it most, and we will ensure it is properly utilised.”
Governor Bago also revealed that advocacy campaigns are currently ongoing to educate residents on the dangers of settling along coastlines. He emphasized that such sensitisation is crucial to prevent future occurrences of similar disasters.
“The advocacy is intensive,” he noted, “and we are urging our people to steer clear of coastlines to avert the recurrence of such destructive phenomena.”
The flood in Mokwa LGA, which recently claimed several lives and displaced hundreds, has drawn attention to the urgent need for coordinated climate resilience strategies among Nigerian States. Governor Zulum’s donation is one of the largest recorded responses to the disaster so far.
