President Bola Tinubu has, on Monday in Maiduguri, vowed to tackle the challenges of climate change and other environmental issues facing the nation with a Relief Fund.
Senate president, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who accompanied the President on the visit, said the National Assembly will collaborate with the executive to establish the Fund.
The President made this pledge while commiserating with the government and people of Borno state over the recent flood disaster that left many dead and properties destroyed.
President Tinubu, who was received by the state governor, Prof Babagana Zulum and other political stakeholders in the state, visited the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camp, where he assured the flood victims of maximum support by the Federal Government; then to the palace of the Shehu of Borno, HRH Abubakar Umar Garba, where he commiserated with the monarch.
Speaking at the Shehu’s palace, President Tinubu said he had to reschedule his official trip to the United States of America (US) in order to sympathize with the people of Borno over the unfortunate incident.
He said, “I am just here to sympathize with you. I know your palace was overtaken by flood; I have heard the report. My VP gave me details, but to me personally, I know I have to cut off. I was going directly to America, but to be with you if only for five minutes, share the moment. I thank you very much for your leadership and for your various prayers, and this is one disaster that we must pay attention to. We will help Borno State.
“We, as a government, as Nigerian people, pledge with you that we will help you in the rehabilitation. It is our problem, not just yours; we must share in each other’s pains. The situation that we find ourselves in is the environmental problem, climate change, and all of these are what we must tackle differently, and we must educate our people.”
Shehu of Borno, in his comments, requested that the President get to the root cause of the flooding.
“My request is to find out the root cause of this flooding and we address them appropriately, so as to avoid future occurrence, as 80 percent of Maiduguri has been affected by this disaster.
“This great city of Maiduguri was established sometime in 1907. It’s a period of 117 years; nothing like this ever happened. Although about 30 years ago, in 1994, a similar disaster of this kind happened, but this kind happened worse.”
The monarch expressed appreciation to the military for their roles in rescuing the victims.
Also speaking, the state governor thanked the president for cutting short his trip to the US to commiserate with his people.
Zulum said, “Your Excellency, your relationship with the people of Borno State has been in existence long before you became the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Some may not even count the number of times you came to Maiduguri. For those of us in the position, we knew your contributions to the growth and development of our dear state. We have known your contributions to the growth and development of democracy in Borno State and indeed to our own party.
“We have seen your contributions you made when we had the Sabari Masaka and the many more incidents that have happened in Borno State. Now that you have become the president, I am not surprised. So, you have been here; be rest assured that the people of Borno State will never disappoint you; you have a dependable ally, that we will never disappoint you.”
He expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Agriculture and the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for their support to the state so far.
President Tinubu also on Monday announced a disaster relief fund to assist Nigerian citizens impacted by floods and other disasters.
According to him, the relief fund is already expedient as the climate becomes more unpredictable and many places in the country are vulnerable to its vagaries.
The President, who announced the Relief Fund at the Borno State Government House in Maiduguri when he visited the state to sympathize with the government and people over the recent flooding from Alau Dam, urged the private sector to contribute to the fund.
President Tinubu said: “After my visit to the Shehu of Borno and the IDP camp, I have been reflecting on how to tackle this kind of disaster and the effects of climate change.
“There must be a disaster relief fund. I will invite the private sector to team up with us and help rebuild the affected areas. If we take a small percentage from FAAC and put it as a disaster relief fund, which will include all of you, we will be activating and strengthening our sense of belonging.”.
The President thanked Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State, who is also Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum; Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed; Sokoto State Governor Ahmad Aliyu; and Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo; and other governors who look beyond party lines to bear the burdens of others.
He also said that Nigeria’s diversity should spur prosperity.
The President extended his sympathy to the government, the people of Yobe State, and all the states affected by flooding and pledged his government’s continued support for victims of natural disasters.
“For all the people of Yobe State, I sympathise with you. We will create an outstanding program for Nigeria to recover from this calamity. We will build our nation together,” the president assured.
President Tinubu 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 President commended all the ministries, agencies, and security outfits, particularly the military, involved in evacuation and relief and recognised the international organisations working in the state.
