President Tinubu dispatches delegation to Niger, offers assurance to flood victims
President Bola Tinubu has dispatched a delegation to Niger state to sympathize with the government and people of the state following the flood that destroyed Mokwa and surrounding communities.
The flood claimed the lives of at least 151 persons, displaced many, and destroyed homes and critical infrastructure, including roads and bridges.
The delegation, comprising the Mohammed Idris, the minister of information and national orientation, and Nentawe Yilwatda, the minister of humanitarian affairs and poverty alleviation, was received by Yakubu Garba, the deputy governor of Niger state.
At a courtesy visit to the state government, the minister delivered the president’s condolences and affirmed the federal government’s commitment to supporting affected communities.
“We are here on the directive of Mr. President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to come and see the people of Niger State particularly the Governor and officials of the state government to commiserate with you; to sympathize and empathize with you on what has happened in Mokwa Local Government Area,” Idris said.
“Mr. President is personally saddened by this and yesterday he directed that every available resources of the Federal Government should be deployed to Mokwa and that’s why you are seeing me in the company of my brother, the Honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affair.”
According to Idris, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has already conducted a comprehensive assessment of the disaster and mobilised relief efforts in collaboration with the state government.
“We are aware that they (NEMA) have been collaborating with the state government to ensure seamless operations. They also ensured that those who have lost their lives; the bodies are respectfully recovered; those who have sustained various degrees of injuries are attended to and every requirement that the government needs to put together are in place to ensure succour is being provided for those our brothers and sisters in Mokwa,” he added.
“This is also a call to our people to take this as a warning against future occurrence, especially all those living around the areas where this kind of disaster is prone to happen,” he added.
Also, the president directed the National Orientation Agency (NOA) to team up with state governments to enhance awareness in flood-prone areas to ensure that residents take early warnings seriously and adopt precautionary measures.
