Mokwa Flood: Non-Indigenes Mostly Affected — Niger Gov

Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State has revealed that most of the victims affected by the May 29 flood disaster in Mokwa town, the headquarters of Mokwa Local Government Area, were non-indigenes, constituting over 50 percent of those impacted.

He disclosed this on Tuesday while receiving humanitarian support from Veritas University, Abuja, a Catholic Church-owned institution.

Represented by his deputy, Yakubu Garba, the governor stated that the state government had begun proper documentation of the victims, including collecting bank account details for the disbursement of funds donated by various governments and organizations.

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He noted that although the Accountant General of the State was yet to disclose the total amount donated, each affected family was expected to receive no less than N1 million.

“The Mokwa Flood was a national disaster because the number of indigenes affected were just few. The Hausa people, Yoruba people and other tribes that were not indigenes were the majority of victims.

“We want to ensure transparency and accountability in the distribution of humanitarian supports. So, we sent people for enumeration and when they came back, we sent another team for validation. So we have harmonized the data they collated. And already, NSEMA officials are ground collecting bank account details of those affected and next of kins of those who died. Once we are sure of our record, we can then transmit the list to the bank and start issuing cheques.

“As soon as we give them the foods and the money, we are going to close the IDP camps, because when you leave people in the camp even if they have relatives to stay with, you are discouraging him from taking his own life into his own hands.

“The food w are going to give them will take them for sometime because each household cannot get below N1 million and that is the intervention from the state government. That of the federal government is also coming,” he said.

Governor Bago added that families currently hosting the displaced victims would also receive support to boost their morale.

He acknowledged Veritas University as the first faith-based organization to donate to the victims and appreciated the gesture.

Presenting the humanitarian support, the Vice-Chancellor of Veritas University, Rev. Fr. Professor Hyacinth Ichoku, represented by the Dean of the Faculty of Education, Rev. Dr. Peter Bakwaph, said some students of the institution lost family members in the disaster.

He stated that the university had donated 150 mattresses, mosquito repellents, and other relief materials to support the victims’ families during their time of grief.