By Orkula Shaagee, Abuja

The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq has donated relief materials and food items to victims of extreme flooding in Jigawa State which killed over one hundred and forty persons and left many others homeless.

The minister who sympathized with the government and people of Jigawa state during a visit on Friday October 9, 2020 expressed sadness over the flood which affected several Local Government Areas including Hadejia, Malam-Madori, Auyo, Miga, Kirikasamma, Kafin-Hausa, Guri, Birniwa, Ringim, Taura, Jahun, Kaugama and Maigatari.

Umar Farouq said President Muhammadu Buhari had directed the Ministry to activate the National Emergency Management Agency to immediately respond to displaced and other victims of the flood.

“The President, Muhammadu Buhari GCFR is concerned about the flood and had directed the National Emergency Management Agency NEMA to deploy some relief items, mainly essential non-food items that were distributed as pre-assessment support to the affected persons. We are here also with more relief items approved for distribution to complement the support of the State Government to the affected persons”.

Earlier during a courtesy visit, the deputy governor of the state Alhaji Umar Namad who stood in for Governor Mohammed Badaru Abubakar (MON) described the flood as a disaster. He said the state had never experienced such flood even in the last 100 years.

“We lost over one hundred and forty four persons to the flood. One hundred thousand acres of farmlands were also washed away while hundreds of persons have been driven away from their communities by the flood. We desilted several water channels and prepared for the rainy season but still we were overrun by the floods. We appeal to the federal government to assist us in desilting the remaining waterways”.

The Deputy Governor also narrated the ordeal of farmers in the state and urged the minister to quickly come to their aid.

“The most pathetic thing is that these farmers borrowed money to buy fertilizers to farm and now everything has been destroyed. We urge you to use your kind office to get fertilizers for the farmers so that they can farm and harvest crops before the dry season”.

The Minister Sadiya Umar Farouq promised that three hundred trucks were already being loaded with fertilizers for onward distribution to the state.

Items donated include 5,952 mattresses, 5,952 nylon mats, 5,952 blankets, 5,952 mosquito nets, 200 cartons of detergent, and 200 cartons of toilet soap.

Food items donated are 2,976 bags (12.5kg) of Rice, 2,976 bags (12.5kg) of Beans, 2,976 bags (12.5kg) of Maize, 149 bags (20kg) of Salt, 298 kegs (20Ltrs) of vegetable oil, 496 cartons of seasoning and 248 cartons of tomato paste.

4,500 bags of Cement, 4,500 bundles of Roofing sheets, 4,500 pieces of Ceiling boards, 1,000 bags of 3 inches Nails and 3,000 packets of Zinc Nails were also donated to the state to help put up makeshift shelters for the affected persons.