N18bn disbursed to 101,330 Borno flood victims – Govt

A total of N18.08bn has been distributed among 101,330 families affected by recent flooding in Borno State, the government said on Monday.

The disclosure was made during the presentation of the final report by the flood relief distribution committee to the Governor Babagana Zulum at the Government House in Maiduguri.

The committee’s chairman, Bukar Gujibawu, explained that the N18.08bn disbursed included cash assistance, food, and non-food items.

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According to Gujibawu, the committee received N28.2bn in total, contributed by the federal and state governments, corporate organisations, and private donors.

“This includes a significant N10bn contribution from Borno State Government. In addition, the committee received donations of drugs, medical supplies, food and other essential items valued at billions of naira.

“The committee allocated N987m to assist 7,716 traders in affected markets, N313m to 814 worship centres, N213m to 267 private schools, N89.4m to 1,788 youths who contributed during the flood, and N12.5m to 22 private clinics,” Gujbawu stated.

The committee recommended that the remaining N4.45bn be used to rehabilitate earth roads in flood-hit areas, including the Gongulong and Old Maiduguri roads.

“The remaining food and non-food items will be distributed to host communities. The disaster also resulted in the destruction of public infrastructure and farmlands and the loss of human lives,” he said.

Gujibawu emphasised that over one million people were affected by the flood, with 101,330 households displaced.

Responding, Governor Zulum assured the committee of implementing all the recommendations submitted, directing the immediate activation of a permanent disaster response structure at the state emergency management agency.

The governor also directed the Secretary to the State Government to devise modalities for properly capturing street names and house numbers in all communities within the state capital and its environs.

The governor further directed the Ministry of Works to immediately reconstruct the road networks destroyed by flood in different communities.

Zulum commended the relief distribution committee for the job and the Federal Government for its huge support to victims of the Maiduguri flood disaster.

“Let me commend the members of this important committee for your meticulous work. In sha Allah, posterity will judge you positively,” Zulum said.