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Tag: flood victims

  • Why I focus on feeding 10,000 flood victims daily – Imam

    Why I focus on feeding 10,000 flood victims daily – Imam

    The Mutawalle of Borno, Alhaji Kashim Imam, says he engages in feeding 10,000 victims of Maiduguri flood disaster daily based on the victims’ critical requirement for now.

    Imam in an interview while monitoring the feeding programme, said, he would sustain the feeding, which he scaled it up from 6,000 to 10,000 for the victims in camps to complement government’s efforts.

    According to Imam, as the victims gradually move out of camps in few weeks, they will be supported with rice to start cooking for themselves as against the current practice of cooked food distribution.

    He commended his family members and volunteers for the daily cooking and distributing food to flood victims in various camps.

    “I want to particularly commend the military, who are not only actively engaged in search and rescue operations but also assist me in sharing the food to victims as well as ensuring orderliness and decorum during the exercise,” Imam said.

    The former Board Chairman of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), also lauded the concern and response from government, organisations, philanthropists, and all other individuals to the people of Borno over the sudden incident that took people unaware.

    “Nobody was prepared for this, people were caught unaware in the middle of the night.

    “Many escaped with the only clothes they were wearing, with some trapped for more than a week.

    “As the flood recedes, many cannot even go back to their homes because there’s no home to go back to,” Imam lamented.

    A cross section of the victims benefitting from Imam’s gesture, expressed gratitude for the support and urged other leaders and well meaning Nigerians to emulate the good gesture in complementing government efforts at all levels.

    “The most pressing issue now is saving lives and stabilising the survivors through feeding and shelter.

    “We want to sincerely thank the Mutawalle of Borno, other philanthropists and organisations doing similar exercise in various camps.

    “May God Almighty bless them and continue to touch their lives with joy and happiness as they touched our lives at this moment of need,” Habiba Idris, a displaced woman with two children prayed.

  • Senator Buba advises Bauchi Gov to release disaster fund for Flood victims

    Senator Buba advises Bauchi Gov to release disaster fund for Flood victims

    Senator Shehu Umar Buba, Chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, has expressed deep sorrow over the devastating flooding that recently ravaged communities in Bauchi State, particularly in Fadaman Mada, where widespread damage to homes and property was reported.

    In response to the disaster, Senator Buba donated N10 million and 500 bags of rice to five local government areas affected by flooding in Bauchi State, including Katagum, Giade, Jamma’are, Zaki, and Darazo LGA. Each area received N2 million and 100 bags of rice.

    In his condolences to the affected families, Senator Buba emphasized the urgent need for immediate attention to the disaster’s impact. “I received the news of the unfortunate incident with sadness, and I pray that Allah grants the victims the strength to endure this loss,” he said.

    Senator Buba urged the Bauchi State Government to swiftly access the N3 billion earmarked by the federal government for flood disaster relief to states. He said the fund, approved by the National Economic Council and allocated by the Federal Government of Nigeria, is specifically intended to assist victims of natural disasters like the recent flooding.

    While calling for urgent and swift actions to alleviate the suffering of those affected, Buba emphasized that the release and proper allocation of the funds could significantly impact the lives of countless individuals affected by the flood.

    Senator Buba’s appeal to the governor highlights the critical need for timely governmental response in times of crisis, resonating with many in the region as the community looks to rebuild and recover from this unfortunate incident.

  • Delta commits N1bn monthly to pension payment, enlists flood victims into health scheme

    Delta commits N1bn monthly to pension payment, enlists flood victims into health scheme

    The Delta Government says it has committed N1.1 billion monthly to paying retired civil servants their pensions.

    The State Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, disclosed on Friday in Asaba at a news briefing.

    He was in the company of Dr Ben Nkechika, Director General, Delta State Contributory Health Commission.

    Aniagwu also disclosed that the state government had commenced the enrollment of the more than 25,000 flood victims across the state into the State Health Insurance Scheme.

    He said this would enable them to access free medical care.

    He noted that the pension funds were channelled to the retirees under the old pension scheme and the contributory pension scheme.

    He said grants were also given to the local government councils to enable them to settle their workers pensions.

    He said that in spite of the state government efforts and commitment to tackling the pension issues, certain group of LGA workers had been sponsored by the opposition to protest against non-payment of outstanding pensions.

    He said that the Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa-led government has planned to give N10 billion to the LGAs to defray the backlog of the pensions.

    According to him, the responsibility of the local government workers lies directly with the councils and not the state government,

    On the enrolment of the flood victims, the commissioner said it was not to achieve political points but to ensure that the victims accessed free healthcare services.

    Aniagwu said that Okowa had gone round the camps to provide relief materials, “but the governor believes that man does not live by bread alone“.

    “By the time they (flood victims) leave this camp, it is possible for them to take care of their healthcare needs. These are persons that are rich and government needs to meet them halfway.

    “When they go back to their homes, there will be challenges of rebuilding their homes.

    “Government will not be in a position to do a number of things for them. But Okowa has said health is wealth, there is need to be healthy for them to begin to engage in other things,“ he said.

    On his part, Nkechika said that the health insurance scheme, which started in Jan. 2017, had no fewer than 1.2 million enrollees in 500 healthcare facilities across the state.

    He said that the premium was free for the flood victims, adding that the resources used to defray their premium was from the Federal Government, as well as the state government.

    “Unlike other enrollees who are expected to pay N7,000 annually, government would be responsible for the payment of the premium for the flood victims.

    “The beneficiaries will continue to enjoy free healthcare services, even after leaving the camp, for the next one year,” he said.

    Nkechika said that the essence of health insurance was to provide accessible healthcare to all residents of the state, irrespective of socio-economic status or geographical locations.

  • NEMA, military begin SAR operation to airlift trapped flood victims in Anambra

    NEMA, military begin SAR operation to airlift trapped flood victims in Anambra

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and the Disaster Response Unit (DRU) of the Military has commenced Aerial view operation to ascertain persons displaced or trapped by the rising floods in Anambra.

    Mr Thickman Tanimu, Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, South-East, told newsmen on Monday in Awka, that it would aid the airlifting of trapped persons in the affected communities.

    “Search and Rescue (SAR Operations) has commenced today. The Military DRU have engaged and have started ‘Air Recce’ or Aerial view to collect imagery intelligence of the affected communities.

    “This will help to accertain displaced and trapped persons who need to be evacuated to pave the way for air lifting,” he said.

    Tanimu said that the Presidency and the Director-General NEMA, Mustapha Ahmed-Habib, while commiserating with the state government and flood victims including the bereaved, approved the relief materials.

    He said that the relief materials would be presented directly to flood victims on Tuesday.

    “The delay in arrival of the relief materials is due to the flood disaster that cut off Abuja – Lokoja road and also the security situation due to the Monday sit-at-home in the South East.

    “The relief material will hopefully arrive on Tuesday and be ready for delivery directly to victims.

    “These items are meant to complement the efforts of Anambra State Government in providing immediate succour to victims and aid their speedy rehabilitation,” he said.