(Agency Report)
Federal Government of Nigeria has reiterated its commitment to partner with the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to curb flood and other natural disasters.
Vice-President Kashim Shettima made the disclosure on Wednesday when he received the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Abbas was at the villa to commiserate with the Vice-President over the ravaging flood that submerged Maiduguri, following the collapsed of the Alau dam in Borno.
Shettima said President Bola Tinubu recently approved N3 billion for each of the 36 states, to tackle natural disasters such as flooding and other environmental challenges.
According to him, the intervention is to give the subnational governments a sense of belonging, and described the Maiduguri floods as a national calamity not just affecting Borno state but the entire country. “It is a national calamity that has befallen us, and it is a concomitant effect of the incestuous relationship among climate change, ecology and the economy. From Bayelsa to Sokoto, there is hardly any part of this nation that has not been affected by these flooding incidences,” he said.
He, however, assured that with the zeal and willingness demonstrated by President Tinubu, the issue of flooding and other challenges in the states would soon be addressed. “The President has shown his zeal, willingness and commitment to partner with the states towards addressing these issues.
“Recently, he approved the release of N3 billion to each state of the federation to address some of these challenges so that all parts of the federation should have buy-in and belonging”.
Earlier, Abbas assured that the National Assembly would provide support for the affected communities.
“We in the National Assembly are looking all through to see what kind of support we will give to the people affected. We are very sorry, Your Excellency, for what happened. We share your pains, we share your concerns, we are together in this from the beginning to the end.
“Insha Allah; it will come to pass, and people will go back to their normal lives and businesses as if it did not happen because we and you will make sure that we provide all the palliatives for them to regain their means of livelihood.
”Thank you, Your Excellency; please, convey our sincere concerns to the governor and to the people of Borno State,” he said. (NAN)
