Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, has announced emergency relief efforts, supplementing the ECOWAS Flood Emergency Response Project with essential items, including food, mats and blankets, to support communities devastated by floods in Bauchi state.
The Governor was speaking at the grand finale of the ECOWAS Flood Response Project in Bauchi State, held at the Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu Plaza of Government House on Wednesday.
Bala Mohammed, represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Aminu Hammayo, stated: “We are gathered here today not to celebrate but to offer a tangible expression of solidarity and support to those who have been deeply affected by the recent devastation. floods that have devastated our communities.”
According to him, “everyone will remember that in 2024, after persistent heavy rains, water levels rose, leading to severe flooding that caused significant damage to infrastructure, including roads, schools, health facilities, shelters and other community facilities in 16 countries. of 20 LGAs of the State.”
The Governor added: “Agricultural lands and other sources of livelihood were also affected, leading to losses in agricultural produce and affecting food security. What makes the situation even worse is the fact that the higher areas, which until now had not been affected by the floods, were affected.”
He said the assessment by the State Emergency Management Agency and other supervisory authorities indicated that the floods had led to the large-scale displacement of more than 30,436 households, comprising more than 293,300 people.
He stated: “More than 52,000 houses were destroyed or severely damaged, while several hectares of farmland were razed. The flood had exacerbated humanitarian needs, and people, mainly women and children, were exposed to undignified living conditions and slept in open or crowded spaces, exposing them to health and protection risks.”
The Governor added: “At one point, 187 victims were reported, including 24 deaths. Although a comprehensive report was submitted to the National Economic Council for consideration and support, the state government and other supporting agencies including NEMA took urgent steps to provide necessary interventions to improve the situation at colossal costs.”
He stressed that the distribution of palliatives is a small step towards alleviating the hardship and suffering that many have endured and a clear demonstration of the utmost commitment to supporting the victims during such a difficult period.
“We acknowledge, with a deep sense of gratitude, the efforts of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction and the ECOWAS Commission for this kind gesture of providing support to the victims affected by the 2024 floods in Bauchi State “he added.
Bala Mohammed further stated: “We note, as highlighted above, that 1,000 households (HH) from Gamawa, Zaki, Kirfi, Jama'are, Giade and Katagum local government areas of the state have been identified to benefit from the emergency by floods. Relief Project.”
According to him, “the beneficiaries of those 1,000 households will receive cash payments of N75,000.00 each through prepaid cards along with the following food and non-food items: 25kg bag of rice; 15 kg bag of garri; 12kg bag of beans; 5 liters of vegetable oil; 5 liters of palm oil; 1 blanket; 1 mosquito net; 1 plastic bucket; and 1 drum.”
“Let me also record our agreement to assume responsibility for all the logistics necessary to make this event a success,” he added.
He assured: “On our part, we have provided additional intervention for 150 vulnerable households to benefit from food and non-food items comprising 1 25kg bag of rice; 1 25 kg bag of corn; 1 box of spaghetti; 1 box of macaroni; a mat; a plastic bucket; and N75,000 in cash.”
He highlighted: “This is in addition to the various palliatives that we had given since the incident occurred to various beneficiaries throughout the State. Let me assure you that the Bauchi State Government will continue to do everything possible, within an established social protection framework, to address the challenges of our citizens affected by these natural and other disasters.”
“However, the enormous impact and negative consequences of such natural disasters could be reduced or mitigated if we, as citizens, also take precautionary measures including avoiding clogging of waterways, clearing drains and creating continuous awareness about the associated dangers.” with such natural disasters. “Negative trends,” he added.
The Governor added: “Our responsible agencies, including local governments, must stand up and take on this responsibility of law enforcement and awareness.”
“In addition, it is also very important for us to reflect on the growing number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the 20 local governments of the State that arise from migration from conflict areas around us,” he added.
According to him, “what makes the situation of IDPs more peculiar in the State is the fact that IDPs are integrated into the host communities without isolating them in camps. Although this has put a lot of pressure on existing social services requiring additional resources and support, we will continue to be our brothers' guardians in times of their need.”
The Governor further stated: “We would like to urge the Federal Government, development partners and other donor support institutions to work together with the Bauchi State Government to provide long-term solutions to the growing problem of internally displaced persons in the been considering our proposed phased solutions. “
The solutions steps included enumerating the actual numbers of IDPs in the state in all 20 local government areas, developing projects that will further help assimilate IDPs into host communities and facilitating research to determine what has helped IDPs adapt in host communities and assist them in the transition. to a normal life.
Others are facilitating constructive dialogues between Bauchi and neighboring states to find lasting solutions to the perennial conflict that has continually left more internally displaced people in Bauchi State every year, facilitating conflict mitigation and peacebuilding training programs in affected communities. , developing an early warning system for affected communities. to help nip conflict in the bud and reduce the incidence of IDP influx, and continually facilitate review meetings to track progress until incidents of conflict come to an end.
According to him, “When we practically deal with man-made incidents that lead to incidents of IDPs, we would be in a better position to save resources to deal with incidents of natural disasters that lead to more IDPs. “We are more than ever prepared to take action to achieve these seven steps.”
He concluded by thanking the ECOWAS Commission for providing such support through the efforts of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
“I also want to thank the implementing partner, the Nigerian Red Cross, for their continued support to humanitarian causes in Bauchi State and the country at large. “I recognize the efforts of the Honorable Commissioner of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management and the members of her team for the great work they are doing to address the myriad of challenges we face,” he concluded.