During the handover yesterday in Maiduguri, the secretary of the panel, Mrs Hajara Modu, restated the body’s commitment to supporting flood-affected communities.
Representing the co-chairmen, Aliko Dangote and Dr Olisa Agbakoba, the scribe said the donation was in fulfilment of the pledge made by the committee at the height of the catastrophe.
In early September, Maiduguri, the capital, experienced catastrophic flooding that submerged approximately 70 per cent of the city, making the state the most severely affected in the country.
The disaster displaced thousands of residents, destroyed homes, and disrupted essential services, thus worsening the existing humanitarian challenges in the region.
She said Dangote had announced a N2 billion donation.
According to her, out of the sum, N1 billion is on behalf of the committee for the procurement and supply of relief materials to the flood victims, and the other N1 billion was donated by the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF).
She recalled that the committee that was set up in 2012 by former President Goodluck Jonathan had only a year to work, adding that through Dangote’s support, it has continued to address the flood disasters in the country.
Governor Babagana Zulum thanked the committee for the gesture.
Represented by his deputy, Umar Usman Kadafur, the governor revealed that the state government had raised a committee to ensure the effective distribution of relief materials to real victims.
He commended Dangote for his unwavering commitment to humanitarian causes, and for contributing significantly to the state’s recovery efforts.
Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs Zubaida Umar, applauded Dangote for providing the requisite leadership in humanitarian interventions in the country.
Represented by the Director of Relief and Rehabilitation, Abdullahi Adamu Usur, the DG said: “Today’s handover of relief materials, donated by the PCFRR, is a testament to the unwavering commitment of the Federal Government under the able leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
She listed some of the items including beans, seasoning, salt, sugar, tomato paste, vegetable oil, foam mattress, guinea brocade, wax print, blankets, mosquito nets, nylon mat, bathing soap, detergent, diapers and sanitary pads.
The Commissioner for Women and Social Development, Zuwaira Gambo thanked the committee for what she described as a huge humanitarian intervention.
NEMA’s Coordinator for the Northeast Zonal Office, Sirajo Garba, said the agency, in collaboration with other stakeholders, had perfected a transparent modality for the distribution of the items.
