Dangote-led Flood Committee begins distribution of N1.5bn relief items to victims nationwide

*Alhaji Umar Musa Gulani, representative of the Dangote-led Presidential Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation assures Nigerians at the flagging off for the North-East Zone that the exercise will be conducted in five other geopolitical zones of the West African country

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

The Dangote-led Presidential Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation (PCFRR), known as ‘Dangote Flood Committee’, in Nigeria, has commenced the distribution of relief materials worth N1.5billion to victims of flooding nationwide.

The PCFRR, which was established by the Federal Government following the 2012 flooding, is co-chaired by Africa’s foremost industrialist Aliko Dangote and Dr. Olisa Agbakoba.

Dangote Group, in a statement issued late Tuesday, December 6, 2022, said the flagging off ceremony for the relief materials distribution for this year started in Borno State.

Governor (Prof.)  Babagana Umara Zulum of Borno State conducted the flag off ceremony Tuesday in Maiduguri, Borno State capital.

Prof. Zulum thanked the Dangote Flood Committee and promised that he would ensure the relief items get to the victims.

UNICEF revealed that the 2022 flood killed 600 people, displaced 1.3 million and destroyed more than 82,000 homes in Nigeria, therefore, making it the worst in decades, noted the Group.

Alhaji Umar Musa Gulani, representative of the Dangote-led Presidential Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation (PCFRR), assured at the flagging off for the North-East Zone that the exercise would also be conducted in five other geopolitical zones of Nigeria.

Gulani said the items from the Committee have been officially handed over to the Borno State Government and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

He also stated that the exercise would be conducted across the six geo-political zones, beginning from the North-Eastern state of Borno.

“The breakdown of items donated includes 86 bags of rice, 34 bags of beans, 34 bags of maize, 34 bags of millet, 34 bags of Guinea Corn, 34 bags of Garri, 86 cartons of noodles, 86 cartons of spaghetti, 86 cartons of macaroni and 86 bags of sugar, and 857 bags of cement, among several food and non-food items,” Dangote Group said.

Gulani disclosed that over N10billion had been expended by the Committee to mitigate the effect of flooding since inception in 2012, adding that no fewer than 84 Hostels have been built for flood victims in 24 states of Nigeria.

Relief project private sector-driven

The PCFRR Representative further said: “This private sector-led project is highly commendable, and it has been sustained in the past ten years.

“It is a selfless service from the private sector and Nigerians should appreciate their selfless service to humanity.”

Flood Disaster intervention a milestone for Nigeria: NEMA Director-General

Meanwhile, Alhaji Mustapha Habib Ahmed, Director-General of NEMA, has described the Committee’s intervention as a milestone for Nigeria in general, and flood victims in particular.

Alhaji Ahmed stated: “Responding to the humanitarian outcomes of this nature requires concerted effort.”

The Director-General of NEMA remarked that the donation by the Dangote Flood Committee would eventually be made available to flood victims across the affected states across the country.

Speaking on behalf of the victims, Khalifa El-Miskin said the victims were extremely appreciative of the gesture.

It is recalled that the Committee also recently, during the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, donated N1.5 billion to fight the virus. Announcing the donation, Alhaji Dangote said it was imperative for well-meaning Nigerians to help the Federal Government in fighting the virus.

The Committee also recently provided N250 million as relief assistance to victims of the devastating floods in Benue State.

Besides the donation in Benue, the Dangote-led Committee also revealed that it had also donated the sum of N150 million (in kind) to provide relief assistance to flood victims in Anambra State.

It also released the sum of N118 million to NEMA to augment the N1.6 billion released by the Federal Government for procurement of food and non-food relief materials in aid of the flood victims in the following 16 states: Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Abuja FCT, Kebbi, Kwara, Lagos, Niger, Ondo, Oyo, Plateau, and Sokoto, said the Group.

The statement added that the Committee, at its inauguration by former President Goodluck Jonathan, had raised whopping N11.35 billion to support flood victims.

Topping the list of donors at the event was Dangote and the Federal Government, who donated N2.5billion each.

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