Senators have donated a sum of N74 million to support victims of the recent devastating flood that struck Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, last week.
The flood, which resulted in the loss of lives and property, was caused by an overflow at the Alau Dam, located just over 10 miles south of Maiduguri.
The donation was announced by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau, who led a delegation on behalf of the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to Maiduguri on Tuesday.
Senator Barau revealed that each of the 108 senators would contribute N500,000, amounting to N54 million, while he personally contributed N10 million.
The Northern Senators Forum also donated N10 million, bringing the total donation to N74 million.
The senators were warmly received by the Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum.
Senator Barau extended heartfelt condolences to the government and people of Borno over the tragic incident.
Barau said, “Your Excellency, we are here to express our condolences and sympathise with you and the entire state over the devastating flood incident that occurred in this beautiful Borno last week.
“Whatever affects Borno affects the entire country. This is why I am here with some of my colleagues, even though the President of the Senate visited yesterday (Monday) to represent the Senate as a whole.”
He added, “But it is our tradition that, even if a leader has come to express condolences, it does not prevent others under him from coming individually or collectively to sympathise with the victims.
“We extend our sympathies to you and pray that Allah grants Jannatul Firdaus to those who lost their lives. May Allah SWT hasten the recovery of the injured, and may He help those who lost their belongings to recover them as soon as possible.
“Yesterday, when the President of the Senate came, he did not disclose what we intended to donate.
“The plight of the victims deeply affects us. After our meeting yesterday, we agreed to donate the sum of N54 million. Each senator is donating N500,000, which totals N54 million.”
“Personally, I am donating N10 million. I pray that such a flood will not occur again in Borno State or anywhere in the country,” he added.
The Senate delegation also visited Senator Baba Kaka Garbai, who represented Borno Central in the 8th Senate, to offer condolences following the passing of his mother last week.
Senators present included the Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum, Senator Abdulaziz Musa Yar’Adua; the Chairman of the Southern Senators Forum, Senator Adetokunbo Abiru; Senator Ikra Aliyu Bilbis (Zamfara Central); Senator Onawo Ogoshi (Nasarawa South); and Senator Sadiq Umar (Kwara North).
Other senators who attended included Senator Diket Plang (Plateau Central), Senator Babangida Hussaini (Jigawa North-West), Senator Pam Mwadkon Dachungyang (Plateau North), Senator Mohammed Tahir Monguno (Borno North), and Senator Kaka Shehu Lawan (Borno Central).
