Tinubu Approves N2bn for Flood-Ravaged Mokwa, Orders Ministers to Relocate for Immediate Intervention
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the immediate release of ₦2 billion for the reconstruction of homes destroyed by the recent devastating floods in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State.
Vice President Kashim Shettima made the announcement during a condolence visit to flood victims in Mokwa town on Wednesday, where he delivered a message of empathy and support from the president.
“The President specifically instructed me to come to Mokwa to commiserate with the people over the tragedy that befell the town. His heart is with the grieving people of Mokwa,” Shettima said.
The Vice President assured residents that all issues raised during the visit would be addressed in collaboration with the Niger State Government.
To ensure swift and effective response, Shettima revealed that President Tinubu has directed the Ministers of Environment and State for Agriculture to relocate to Niger State and oversee immediate interventions under the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project, especially to resolve drainage challenges that worsened the flooding in Mokwa.
In addition to the reconstruction funds, the President has also approved the deployment of 20 trucks of food items to be distributed to genuine victims of the disaster. Distribution will be coordinated with the Village Head of Mokwa, Shettima said.
He commended the proactive steps taken by Niger State Deputy Governor, Mr. Yakubu Garba, and the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for their swift response to the crisis.
In his remarks, Deputy Governor Yakubu Garba described the disaster as a major setback, urging the Federal Government for a quick intervention to repair infrastructure and restore affected communities.
“We are saddened as a state due to the flood disaster; we commend NEMA DG for promptly responding to the disaster.
“We need quick intervention as the four collapsed bridges have cut down social and economic activities especially in Rabba as students cannot come to Mokwa when there’s rainfall, the bridge needs to be fixed,” Garba said.
The Deputy Governor noted that over 2,000 houses were destroyed by the flood, with victims currently taking refuge in homes of friends and relatives. He added that the state has made land available for possible resettlement and housing development.
Also speaking, the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, appealed to the Federal Government to expedite several stalled road projects within Mokwa and other parts of Niger State.
“There is an ongoing road project bypassing Mokwa town, but because of compensation, the work has stopped. We appeal to the FG to fast-track the project as it’s making life unbearable for the people,” the traditional ruler said.
He further called on the Federal Government to complete critical road infrastructure including the Mokwa-Birnin Gwari-Kaduna road, Lambata-Bida road, Bida-Patigi road, and the Agaie-Match Boro road.
The royal father also emphasized the need for ecological experts to be deployed to tackle the worsening environmental problems in Mokwa.
The Village Head of Mokwa (Ndalile of Mokwa), Alhaji Mohammed Aliyu, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for the visit and sustained support to the community in their time of distress.
