The Honourable Minister of State Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction (FMHAPR), Dr Yusuf Tanko Sununu has said that about 1000 households of the victims of the 2024 Bauchi floods have benefitted from the ECOWAS Emergency Flood Response project worth $200,000.
The Minister of State disclosed this during the grand finale ceremony of the ECOWAS Emergency Response Project on Wednesday 8th January 2025 at Government House Bauchi State.
The Honourable Minister of State who was represented at the event by Mr Ezulu Valentine, Director Humanitarian Affairs of the Ministry said the floods left a trail of destruction, uprooting lives, displacing families and threatening livelihoods.
According to him, the response includes food and non food items and cash assistance.
He revealed that the list of beneficiaries was provided by the State government and validated by the Nigerian Red Cross Society, the implementing partner, to ensure that the most affected population was targeted and captured.
The Minister of State expressed appreciation to ECOWAS Commission for the generous funding support ” This collaboration underscores the power of regional solidarity in addressing Humanitarian challenges and demonstrating that collective action is the key to overcoming shared challenges”.
He also commended the efforts of the ECOWAS National Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Permanent Mission of Nigeria to ECOWAS for their mediation that resulted in the donation of the funds to the Nigerian government.
He assured that the Federal government through the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, is also working towards longer term solutions to mitigate the impact of flood disaster in the country.
Dr Sununu urged “the beneficiaries to make the most use of the resources given to them and remain hopeful as we collectively rebuild and recover”.
He thanked the State government for the support provided towards the success of the project in the State.
The President ECOWAS Commission, Prof. Alieu Touray represented by the Director Humanitarian and Social Affairs, Sintiki Tarfa Ugbe said the sum of $200,000 was donated to the 2024 flood victims of Bauchi State to complement the efforts already made by the State government in ameliorating the sufferings of the victims.
She disclosed that each beneficiary received 9 items comprising 25 kg of rice, 12 kg of beans, 15 kg of garri, 5 litres of palm and ground nut oil each, one treated mosquito net, one blanket, a Jerry can as well as N75,000 Cash Transfer.
He stated that the intervention was for the six most affected local government areas of the state with 100 households in Katagum, 150 households in Jama’are, 150 Households for Zaki, 300 Households in Gamawa, 150 households in Giade and 150 households in Kirfi.
She commended the support provided by stakeholders for the Bauchi Flood victims and encouraged all actors to continue to work together to support the vulnerable in the society.
The Permanent Representative to ECOWAS, Ambassador Musa Nuhu through Dr Victory Jaja commiserated with the State government over the devastating flood. He commended the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction for coordinating the ECOWAS Response project and the State government for their cooperation and support to ensure the success of the program in the State.
The Representative of the Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs , Ambassador Ali Gombe, said the funding provided by ECOWAS was borne out of advocacy by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to support victims of the Bauchi Flood.
He called on communities to take proactive measures to forestall floodings such as construction of drainages, clearing water ways and listening to weather forecasts by experts.
The President of the Nigeria Red Cross Society (NRCS), Prince Oluyemisi Adetayo Adeaga stressed that humanitarian work is a collective responsibility and encouraged Bauchi State indigenes to join NRCS to provide Humanitarian services to the vulnerable in the society.
He said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR is the Grand Patron of NRCS and the Society intends to decorate the Governor as Patron of NRCS in the State and Chairmen LGAs as Patron at the local level.
Earlier in her welcome address the Bauchi State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hon.Hajia Hajara Yakubu Wanka said Bauchi State has 16 LGAs but Bauchi North was the worst hit by the 2024 Floods.
She said the provision of palliative is a routine exercise in the State and the State has complemented the gesture of ECOWAS Response with relief materials to 150 households in Bauchi LGAs which include rice, beans, spaghetti, macaroni, mat, blanket and cash assistance of N75,000 for each beneficiary.
The Executive Governor of Bauchi State His Excellency Senator Bala Mohammed represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Hon Aminu Hammayo Magatakarda of Misau Emirate Council commended ECOWAS Commission for the funding support, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Permanent Mission to ECOWAS and the Nigerian Red Cross Society for the support.
He mentioned that the state government also complements the gesture by supporting 150 Households of victims of Bauchi with the same 9 items and the sum of N75,000 for each beneficiary.
The Governor enjoined the Local Government Areas to organize sensitization programmes and take up precautionary and preventive measures to prevent flooding.
The high point of the event was the presentation of the relief materials to the beneficiaries by the dignitaries.
Other dignitaries at the event include Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries, Secretary General, NRCS , District Head Kirfi Wamban Bauchi Alhaji Lawan Mohamed Kirfi, traditional and religious leaders and beneficiaries.
Signed
Iliya Rhoda Ishaku
Director Information and Public Relations
