Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has acknowledged the receipt of N4.4 billion in donations, part of the ongoing relief efforts following the devastating floods that recently hit the state.
According to The PUNCH, the governor made this announcement on Monday during the inauguration of a committee tasked with overseeing the disbursement of relief packages to flood victims.
The event took place at the council chamber of the Government House in Maiduguri, the state capital.
The catastrophic flooding, which occurred on September 10, wreaked havoc across Borno, destroying homes, damaging infrastructure, and submerging vast tracts of agricultural land.
The disaster has left thousands of families displaced, with reports indicating that over a million people were directly affected.
In his remarks, Zulum said, “So far, we acknowledge a pledge of N13,195,500,000. However, as of yesterday (Sunday), we have received a total of N4,441,494,902.81. All allocations to this account will be made public in due course.”
He assured the public of transparency, emphasizing that every donation would be accounted for and made available for scrutiny.
Addressing the newly inaugurated disbursement committee, the governor urged its members to perform their duties with the highest level of integrity and commitment.
“To the members of the committee, I urge you to approach this task with diligence and integrity. We must be accountable for every resource entrusted to us,” he stressed.
The Governor further highlighted the importance of transparency and accountability, stating, “We must ensure that every naira allocated for relief is used effectively and reaches those who are suffering.”
He also directed that the allowances for committee members would be funded by the state government to ensure that all relief funds are used exclusively for the benefit of the victims.
The state government is also prioritizing the rehabilitation of public infrastructure damaged by the floods, including hospitals, roads, and bridges, and providing financial assistance to those severely impacted by the disaster.
In addition to the financial support, the governor has enlisted representatives from key anti-corruption and security agencies, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission and the Department of State Services as members of the committee.
Their inclusion is intended to ensure a transparent and accountable process in the distribution of relief materials and funds.
This multi-agency collaboration reflects the state’s commitment to rebuilding and providing effective relief to the thousands of residents who have lost their homes, livelihoods, and loved ones to the floods.
