President Bola Tinubu announced on Monday that the Federal Government would establish a disaster relief fund to assist Nigerian citizens affected by floods and other disasters.
The President made this commitment during his visit to Borno State, where he sympathized with the government and people affected by flooding in areas caused by the overflow of the Alau Dam.
Tinubu stressed the importance of the fund in light of the increasing unpredictability of climate change, which has left many areas in the country vulnerable to natural disasters. He emphasized that the Federal Government would work closely with the private sector to create and sustain the disaster relief fund.
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President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, who accompanied Tinubu during the visit, expressed the National Assembly’s readiness to collaborate with the Executive to ensure the successful establishment of the fund.
During his stay, President Tinubu visited the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn El-Kanemi, at his palace. He also toured the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp located at the Government Secondary School in Maiduguri and visited areas severely impacted by the flooding.
Speaking after his visit, Tinubu highlighted the necessity of addressing climate change-related disasters, calling for a coordinated approach. He proposed that a percentage of funds from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) be dedicated to the disaster relief fund to ensure swift action in times of crisis.
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Governors and Security Agencies Commended for Their Support
The President thanked Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, as well as the Governors of Bauchi, Sokoto, and Kogi states for their assistance to Borno. Tinubu also praised the efforts of the ministries, agencies, security forces, and international organizations involved in the evacuation and support of victims in the region.