Tinubu okays massive food supply for Maiduguri flood victims

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the immediate release of 100 trailers of rice, 50 trailers of maize, 30 trailers of sorghum and 20 trailers of millet.

Addressing State House correspondents at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Abubakar Kyari, said half of the items have already been delivered.

“After Mr. President’s visit, he also approved the immediate release, from the National Strategic Reserve, of 100 trailers of rice, 50 trailers of maize, 30 trailers of sorghum and 20 trailers of millet and that’s in the process of delivery. Half of it has already been delivered, and the delivery is ongoing.

“At FEC, I also highlighted the dangers ahead in what is associated with, usually flood water that is contamination and diseases and also the structures, especially building structures, housing structures that will have been inundated with flood water, usually weakens the structural foundation of such buildings and the humanitarian response that is ongoing, and also the committee that was set up by the Borno state government to look into these items,” he said.

The minister said floodwaters pose significant risks of contamination, and stressed the urgent need to address the issue.

Also speaking, the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, said the FEC has constituted a committee to review the integrity of dams nationwide.

He said the committee is expected to develop detailed designs and further recommendations for the overall reconstruction of the dam for future use.

He said the council extensively deliberated on the flood situation across the country with emphasis on Maiduguri flooding.

“In 2022, there was a problem with one of the components of the dam, the Minister of Water Resources wrote to the National Assembly for allocation of more funds and the government of Maiduguri for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the 38 years dam to further facilitate water supply, purposes of irrigation and flood controls.

“We are now re-accessing the true integrity of the dam to come up with a detailed design for overall reconstruction. We also had a discussion with the management of Lagdo Dam on the release of 100 cubic meters of water that can be released within seven days and the Ministry sent a warning to those living along the Benue River valley areas,” he said.