In a gesture of solidarity, All Progressives Congress Deputy National Chairman (North), Ali Bukar Dalori, has donated N50 million to support victims of the devastating floods in Borno State.
Dalori visited Internally Displaced Persons camps in Maiduguri over the weekend, accompanied by Vice President Kassim Shettima, Minister of Agriculture Abubakar Kyari, and other top officials, according to Nigerian Tribune.
The delegation aimed to assess the damage and provide support to affected communities.
The recent floods have left a trail of destruction, claiming lives and displacing over a million people in Maiduguri and surrounding areas.
Dalori expressed deep sympathy for the affected communities, describing the situation as dire.
“We mourn those who lost their lives and console those who lost properties and sources of livelihood,” Dalori said. “This is a natural disaster, but we are shocked by the extent of damage and loss.”
Governor Babagana Umara Zulum’s swift response to the disaster was praised by Dalori, who urged swift intervention from the government, individuals, and organizations to support relief efforts.
The donation aims to alleviate the suffering of flood victims, support recovery efforts, and bolster Governor Zulum’s relief initiatives.
Vice President Shettima led a Federal Government delegation to assess the damage and provide support. The federal government’s response is expected to complement state-level efforts to address the disaster.
The floods have highlighted the need for collaborative efforts to address natural disasters in Nigeria.
“I am here to sympathise with the government and the good people of Borno State over the sad and unfortunate incident that has rendered many of our people homeless and also resulted in the death of others.
“We are overwhelmed by the extent of damage that the flood disaster has caused our people.
“As we mourn those who are dead, we also wish to console those who lost their properties and sources of livelihood in the flood.
“Yes, this is a natural disaster, which we did not anticipate, but we are shocked at the extent of damage and loss that we have suffered by this ugly occurrence,” he said.
Describing the situation as dire, Dalori called for swift intervention from the government, individuals, and associations to bring relief to the victims and restore hope.
“He also commended Governor Zulum for his prompt response in mitigating the flood’s impact and urged international organisations to extend assistance to the affected communities.
“Let me use this opportunity to thank our leader and Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, for his very rapid response and intervention to arrest and bring the situation under control.
“I would like to call on the Federal Government, public-spirited individuals, and international organisations to rally round and come to the rescue of the affected communities.
“On my part, I wish to donate a cash support of N50,000,000 to support the victims of the disaster,” Dalori added.
Earlier, Vice President Shettima led a Federal Government delegation on a tour of Maiduguri and surrounding areas to assess the damage caused by the flood.
The flood claimed many lives, displaced over a million people, and destroyed homes, businesses, and places of worship in Maiduguri and its environs.
