Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has announced the establishment of a Disaster Relief Fund to support flood victims and other citizens suffering as a result of the pains caused by climate change across the country.
President Tinubu called on Monday during a meeting with Governors, the Chairman of the National Assembly, Senator Godswill Akpabio, the Governor of Borno State, and other key stakeholders at the Borno State Government House, Maiduguri.
The President said doing so would hasten responses and help rebuild the affected areas of States and communities affected by climate change.
‘While I arrived here I was thinking, how do we tackle this kind of a problem whether is climate change or any other kind there must be a disaster relief fund for the victims.
‘If we take a small percentage from FAAC and put it as disaster relief fund, which will include all of you, we will be activating and strengthening our sense of belonging,’ he said.
President Tinubu further said that the federal government and
sub-nationals will partner with the Private Sector to actualize the establishment of the funds.
‘And I will invite the organized private sector to team up with the government. We will do that together and rebuild our affected areas of pain, probably we say make it better.’
Commiserating with the people and government of Borno State at the Shehu of Borno’s Palace, Abubakar Garba Ibn Umar Al Amin Elkanemi, the Nigerian Leader pledged to tackle different environmental and climate change affecting some regions of the country.
‘To me Shehu, I am just here to sympathize with you, I know your palace was overtaken by flood, and I have heard the report… I thank you very much for your leadership and your various prayers, this is one disaster that we must pay attention to, and we will help Borno State.’
He promised his administration’s support for victims of flood disasters currently residing in different Internally Displaced Camps across the state capital.
President Tinubu further identified the need to educate ci
tizens more on the issues of climate change adding that the narratives surrounding the tragedy must be changed.
‘We as a government and Nigerian people pledge with you that we will help you in the rehabilitation and rescue of the problems… May Allah help us stop the tragedy, the situation that we find ourselves in the environmental problem, climate change, and all of these is what we must tackle differently. And we must educate our people.
‘Please accept our pledge of solidarity and sympathies,’ the President added.
President Tinubu commended the commitment and love expressed by well-meaning Nigerians in supporting the Borno State government in readily providing succor to the victims of the flood disaster in the State.
Senate president Godswill Akpabio, who accompanied the President on the visit, said the National Assembly will collaborate with the executive to establish the Fund.
Read Also: President Tinubu Arrives In Maiduguri To Commiserate With Flood Victims
The President thanked Governor Abdulrahma
n Abdulrazaq of Kwara State, who is also Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Bauchi State governor Bala Mohammed, Sokoto State Governor Ahmad Aliyu; and Kogi State governor Ahmed Usman Ododo; and other governors who looked beyond party lines to bear the burdens of others.
The President commended the Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Zulum, for prompt intervention and the Theatre Command of the Nigerian Military for the evacuation that saved many lives.
‘I am glad that Prof. Zulum has been a very active governor. Let me assure you that we will be with you, Borno State and share the burden.
‘This disaster was a natural one. It was not the making of anybody. We cannot pass the blame. We pray that the Almighty Allah will receive the souls of the departed and grant them eternal rest.
‘May God also overlook their shortcomings and misdeeds on earth,’ he added.
The Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Garba Ibn Umar Al Amin Elkanemi, appreciated the President for what he described as his humanity personality.
He requested the President to assist the State in investigating the over 30 years of climate mystery unsettling the lives of residents of Maiduguri.
Source: Voice of Nigeria