Fatshimetrie recently announced the establishment of a disaster relief fund in Maiduguri, led by President Bola Tinubu. The initiative is aimed at providing relief to Nigerian citizens affected by floods and other natural calamities.
During a visit to the Borno State Government to express condolences over the recent floods from the Alau Dam, President Tinubu encouraged the private sector to contribute to the fund. This is all the more necessary as the weather becomes increasingly unpredictable and many parts of the country are vulnerable to its vagaries.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who accompanied Tinubu on the visit, said the National Assembly would work with the executive to establish the fund. Tinubu also visited the Shehu of Borno, an internally displaced persons camp at the Government Secondary School in Maiduguri and toured the disaster-affected areas.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu noted: “After my visit to the Shehu of Borno and the IDP camp, I reflected on how to deal with this type of disaster and the effects of climate change. There must be a disaster relief fund. I will invite the private sector to partner with us and help rebuild the affected areas. If we take a small percentage from the FAAC and put it as a disaster relief fund, which will include each and every one of you, we will activate and strengthen our sense of belonging.”
The President also expressed gratitude to the governors of Kwara, Bauchi, Sokoto and Kogi states for their solidarity across political divides. He stressed that Nigeria’s diversity should be an engine of prosperity, and assured of his government’s continued support to victims of natural disasters.
Finally, the President commended the swift intervention of the Governor of Borno State, as well as the Nigerian Army Theatre Command, for their life-saving action that saved many lives. He affirmed his commitment to support Borno State and share its burdens in this ordeal.
The message is clear: solidarity and mutual aid are essential in these times of crisis, and Fatshimetrie’s leadership is committed to working towards a stronger and more climate-resilient Nigeria.