President Bola Tinubu announced the creation of a disaster relief fund during his visit to Maiduguri, Borno State, aimed at assisting Nigerians affected by recent floods and other disasters. This announcement was made at the Government House in Borno as he expressed his sympathy to the state government and citizens over the recent flooding from Alau Dam.
During the visit, President Tinubu called on the private sector to contribute to the newly established fund, highlighting its importance in the face of increasingly unpredictable climate conditions and the vulnerability of many areas in Nigeria.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who accompanied Tinubu, assured that the National Assembly would work with the executive to set up the fund. Tinubu also visited the Shehu of Borno, an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp at Government Secondary School in Maiduguri, and conducted a drive-through of the disaster-affected areas.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu reflected on the need for a disaster relief fund to address the impacts of climate change. He proposed allocating a small percentage from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) to this fund and urged the private sector to collaborate in rebuilding the affected regions.
The President expressed gratitude to governors including Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara, Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, Ahmad Aliyu of Sokoto, and Ahmed Usman Ododo of Kogi for their cross-party support during the crisis. He extended his sympathy to Yobe State and all other flood-affected states, promising ongoing government support for disaster victims.
President Tinubu also praised Borno State Governor Professor Babagana Zulum for his prompt response to the disaster and commended the Nigerian military’s Theatre Command for their life-saving evacuation efforts. He assured continued support for Borno State, emphasizing the importance of national unity in overcoming such calamities.