Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, has revealed plans to construct 100,000 houses to resettle communities affected by floods and insecurity.
According to The PUNCH, the governor made this announcement while distributing Federal Government food commodities to vulnerable individuals in the state.
Governor Bago explained that the state is collaborating with the Federal Government to achieve this goal, which aims to provide a lasting solution to the displacement of communities.
He noted that Niger State is prone to flooding due to its geo-location and hydrological features, which has led to the displacement of many communities.
The governor stated, “We are committed to building 100,000 houses to relocate communities ravaged by insecurity and flood disasters or to rebuild destroyed communities.”
He also emphasized the importance of early warning systems, announcing the inauguration of a committee on Monday to address this issue.
Regarding the distribution of grains to vulnerable persons, Governor Bago ensured that the process would be implemented efficiently, with committees established to oversee the distribution.
“Committees have been set up in anticipation of receipt of these food items, as such, we are giving a marching order to them from now to continue the distribution.
“Also, everything that has to do with the logistics has been taken care of by the state government pro bono and impliedly, nobody is supposed to receive a dime for the receipt of these items.”
He emphasized that no individual should receive payment for the receipt of these items.
The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency Zubaida Umar, highlighted that the foodstuffs supplied to Niger State are part of the 42,000 metric tonnes of assorted grains released from the National Strategic Reserve.
This initiative is in fulfillment of President Bola Tinubu’s promise to alleviate economic hardship.
Umar also warned of impending flood disasters in the country, urging affected states to take proactive measures.
She identified highly probable flood risk areas in Niger State, including Agwara, Bida, Magama, and others, and directed the State Emergency Management Agency and other response agencies to take necessary preparedness actions.
