The federal government said it has released N3 billion to each state across the country to address the flooding issues in the states.
The Vice President, Kashim Shettima, disclosed this while speaking with newsmen after visiting the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Gwada, Shiroro local government area of Niger state.
He explained that he was in Niger State for an assessment tour under the directives of President Bola Tinubu, reaffirming the commitment of the federal government to the people of Niger State and Nigeria towards addressing the devastating effects of flood and insecurity that had bedevilled the country.
Shettima said that though the N3 billion is being given to each state, there are states that would get more as some states are more affected than others.
“This is just the tip of the iceberg as far as some states like Borno, Sokoto, Niger, Bayelsa and Jigawa are concerned. We will do the assessment and be scientific in our approach and all states that deserve to be supported will be fully supported because governance is about the people and the President has the people in his mind as he sleeps and wakes up with Nigeria on his mind and we will go round the country and offer empathy and support”, he said.
During the visit to the IDP camps, the Vice President was told that the general number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state stands at 46,853 displaced persons with 5,863 households affected.
A further breakdown revealed that 23,450 men and women, alongside 17,540 children, were affected by flood, banditry and communal conflict across the state.
“We are aware many lives have been lost and people have lost means of livelihoods as well as property worth millions affected. I learned about fourteen local government areas are affected in Niger”, he said.
The Vice President was accompanied by the Minister of Information, Muhammed Idris Malagi; the Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi; the Director General of Nigeria Emergency Management Agency and the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRahman Abdulrazaq.
He restated the commitment of the federal government towards supporting the government and people of Niger State towards addressing the challenges caused by devastation by flood and insecurity.
“We have come to reaffirm the President’s commitment and his irrevocable commitment towards ameliorating the suffering of the people. We will support our people; it is not all about politics; it is about governance; it is about ameliorating the condition of our people.
“This is a symbolic gesture, we have come on an assessment tour, and I want to assure the government and people of Niger State that the President is poised to assist all states of the federation towards addressing these challenges”, he stated.
Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umaru Bago, appreciated the visit of the Vice President to the people of Nigeria state over the flood disasters and insecurity bedevilling the state, saying that it shows the government sees and feels the pains of the people.
He said that the state government and people are relieved over the show of love and concern by the federal government.
The Vice President donated mattresses, bags of rice, beans and salt, groundnut oil, soap, and blankets, among others, to the IDPs in the state.
