The Federal Government has approved the immediate release of N2 billion for the resettlement of victims affected by the devastating flood in Mokwa area of Niger State.
Vice President Kashim Shettima made this announcement during his visit to sympathize with affected communities in Mokwa, assuring them of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration's support.
"The President is heartbroken by the tragedy that befell Mokwa. He has directed swift action to ease the suffering of the people and to help rebuild what has been lost," Shettima stated.
Federal Government's Intervention Measures
The Vice President revealed that the Ministers of State for Agriculture, Senator Abdullah Sabi, and that of Environment have been directed to temporarily relocate to Mokwa. Their mission will be to oversee the reconstruction of collapsed bridges and coordinate other recovery efforts in the area.
Addressing the issue of four bridges damaged by the flood, Shettima explained the shared responsibility approach: "It takes two to tangle, Niger State government has a role to play in this. The federal government will reconstruct two while the Niger state government will do two."
"The federal government has its own duty to the people just like the state government and the local government have to the people," he added.
The Vice President urged Mokwa residents to remain steadfast in faith and trust in God during this challenging period. He also offered prayers for those who lost their lives in the disaster.
Niger State's Appeal for Support
Earlier, Niger State Deputy Governor, Comrade Yakubu Garba, described the incident as a national catastrophe and called for urgent federal intervention, particularly in empowering victims and reconstructing the damaged bridges.
"We are calling on the federal government to come to the aid of the state and empower the victims who lost their source of living as the state alone cannot handle the situation as it is already grappling with security challenges," Garba stated.
The Deputy Governor expressed gratitude to local volunteers and emergency responders, particularly the State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), UNICEF, and others for their round-the-clock efforts to save lives and support displaced residents.
Traditional Ruler's Response
The Etsu Nupe and chairman of the Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers prayed for the souls of those who lost their lives and urged affected victims to accept what happened as an act of God.
He thanked the Federal Government for its swift response while calling for the speedy completion of the ongoing Mokwa bypass expressway and the rebuilding of damaged infrastructure to restore economic and social life in the area.
The Vice President's delegation included the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Idris Malagi, Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Abdullah Sabi, and members of the Niger State House of Assembly, among others.
