Chairman of Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) and Chairman, National Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation, Mr Aliko Dangote, has donated One Billion Naira to the victims of the Maiduguri flood disaster in Borno State.
Dangote also donated another One Billion Naira to the victims on behalf of the Presidential Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation (PCFRR), which he heads.
Dangote announced the donations on Friday in Maiduguri when he paid sympathy visit to the victims.
He said the donation was to help cushion the impacts of the flood disaster on victims.
While going around Maiduguri for an
on-the-spot inspection of the affected areas, Dangote, who is also the President and Chief Executive of the Dangote Industries Limited, sympathised with the victims, urging other Nigerians and willing stakeholders to rally support for them
Dangote described the sight as “mind boggling”, exclaiming that he has “never seen a disaster of this scale before.
“I am moved with pity; I have never seen a disaster of this magnitude before.
“The state needs urgent help and intervention from well-meaning Nigerians and stakeholders.
“A lot of infrastructural development needs to be done; the houses and roads need urgent attention for people to get their lives back.
“Again, we are asking that corporate organisations need to intervene and provide succour in every way possible as the government cannot do it alone.”
In his remarks, Governor Babagana Zulum, appreciated Dangote’s support, stating that he has contributed immensely to the development of the state.
He added that he was not surprised by the visit of the business mogul to the disaster impacted areas of Maiduguri, describing the visit as a soothing solidarity gesture.
The governor called on well-meaning Nigerians to emulate Dangote in his charitable activities.
Recall that the flood disaster affected over one million residents and displaced over 400,000 persons from their houses.
No fewer than 30 persons also lost their lives to the disaster according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
In his brief , the Director-General of the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mr. Barkindo Mohammed, stated that “As of 5pm on Thursday, SEMA evacuated 3,683 persons from their homes in rescue operations.
“The search and rescue operation is still ongoing.
“The mode of rescue involves motors, boats, canoes, divers, military, and fire service trucks, among others.
“As the water continues to recede, we are concentrating on those who make distress calls and will resume search and rescue today and tomorrow,” Mohammed said.
According to him, about two million people were affected, and so far, SEMA has opened 14 official camps and many informal camps where displaced persons can go.
He said that the Federal Government has supported the state with N3 billion and food consignments.
“President Bola Tinubu has supported Borno and other states with N3 billion each.
“Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State has forwarded the money to SEMA, and he has added more on what the federal government gave.
“We are not only responding to the flood victims in Maiduguri but also in Local Government Areas across the state,” Mohammed said.
In early December 2022, the Dangote-led Presidential Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation (PCFRR), known as Dangote Flood Committee had commenced the distribution of relief materials, worth N1.5 billion to victims of flooding nationwide.
The PCFRR, which was established by the Federal Government following the 2012 flooding, is co-chaired by Aliko Dangote and Mr Olisa Agbakoba, SAN.
(vitalnewsngr.com)
