Gombe State Government promises assistance to flood victims

Rebecca Mu’azu, Gombe

Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has promised to provide succour to the victims of the flood disaster in Funakaye Local Government Area of Gombe State, following an early morning downpour that wreaked havoc on some communities in Bajoga town, including Shara- Mansur and Bodoriyel.

A state Government Delegation, led by the Commissioner overseeing the Ministry of Environment and Forest Resources, Mr. Shehu Ibrahim Madugu, visits the affected areas, including where a three-year-old child died while his two-year-old sibling was critically injured following the storm.

The commissioner said the visit was to sympathise with the affected communities and also assess the level of destruction caused for proper intervention to be given.

Mr. Madugu said Governor Yahaya had given the directives to the Ministry of Environment, State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA and other relevant agencies to immediately move in and carry out an on-the-spot assessment of the damage as well as provide succour to ease the suffering of the victims.

The delegation was received on arrival and conducted around the affected areas by the Chairman of Funakaye Local Government Area Council, Mr. Ibrahim Cheldu and other stakeholders.

Mr. Madugu conveyed Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s condolences and sympathies over the lives lost and the damages caused by the flood in the affected Local Government.

“The essence of our visit today is to primary condole with you over this natural disaster that engulfed your communities as well as assess the level of damages caused with a view to developing an interventional recommendation to the government so as to bring succour to the victims,” said Mr. Madugu.

He said Governor Yahaya had directed them to visit on his behalf, because of official an official trip outside the State, but urged the flood-prone communities to abide by the flash flood predictions and warnings by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency, NIMET.

The Chairman, of Funakaye Local Government Council, Mr. Ibrahim Adamu Cheldu, lauded Governor Yahaya for his prompt response in identifying with the affected communities.
He gave the assurances of his council’s readiness to support Governor Yahaya’s administration at all times.

The delegation also visited the Emir of Funakaye, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Mu’azu Mohammed Kwairanga and also condoled with the monarch over the natural disaster that struck his community.

Communities visited include Shara Mansur, and Jillahi among others.