Wife of the President, Oluremi Tinubu, has donated N1 billion to support victims of the recent flood disaster in Mokwa Local Council of Niger State.
The donation was made through the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI), her flagship humanitarian programme, during a condolence visit to the state yesterday.
In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the First Lady on Media, Busola Kukoyi, Mrs Tinubu also presented relief materials and a cheque to governor Umaru Bago at the government House in Minna.
“First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has donated N1 billion to support victims of the recent flood in Mokwa, Niger State, through the Renewed Hope Initiative.
“She made the donation during a condolence visit to the state, presenting the cheque and relief materials to Governor Umaru Bago in Minna,” Kukoyi wrote.
The visit came in the wake of torrential rains that caused widespread devastation in Mokwa, displacing hundreds of residents and destroying homes, farmlands, and critical infrastructure.
The flooding, which followed an early morning downpour on Sunday, also ravaged farmlands in Kafin Koro and Paikoro council areas. In Lapai LGA, no fewer than 18 communities were affected. Among them are Dere, Eshi, Apataku, Tsakanabi, Kuchi Kakanda, Arah, Achiba, Rebba, Ebwa, Pele, Edda, Rigido, Gbami, Yawa, Baka, and Muye, where farmlands were submerged and more communities remain at risk.
In response to the escalating threat, the Niger State government reissued a warning on Sunday, urging residents of riverine areas to move to higher ground.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Communication, Media and Strategy, Jonathan Vatsa, in a statement, appealed to communities in affected zones to heed the evacuation advisory.
“While we understand the deep attachment of our people to their ancestral homes, the need to temporarily relocate is critical to prevent further loss of lives and property,” Vatsa said.
“The rain has intensified, and we urge everyone at risk to move to safer locations until the season is over,” he added.
Also, the President’s wife flagged off an economic empowerment programme for no less than 18,500 persons across the 36 states, aimed towards supporting 500 women from each state, including the FCT.
Unveiling the empowerment programme in Minna, the Niger State capital, yesterday, Mrs Tinubu revealed that the programme was under the Renewed Hope Initiative, in collaboration with the Tony Elumelu Foundation. She maintained that the programme targets women traders and small-scale business owners, with each beneficiary to receive N50,00 each as a grant.
Also speaking, Special Adviser to Governor Umaru Bago on Women’s Affairs, Mrs Mary Noel Berje, described the support as a living testament of her compassion, empathy and unwavering motherly instinct.
