President Tinubu Launches Disaster Relief Fund During Visit To Flood-Affected Borno State

President Bola Tinubu announced a disaster relief fund on Monday during his visit to Maiduguri in Borno State, where Nigerians were affected by floods and other disasters.

The president, during his visit to the Borno Government House, encouraged the private sector to contribute to the fund, noting that it was needed urgently due to the increasing unpredictability of the climate and the growing vulnerability of many regions.

Tinubu also went to see the Shehu of Borno, toured an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp at the Government Secondary School in Maiduguri and drove through areas affected by the disaster.

"After my visit to the Shehu of Borno and the IDP camp, I have been reflecting on how to tackle this kind of disaster and the effects of climate change," the president said, Premium Times reported. "There must be a disaster relief fund. I will invite the private sector to team up with us and help rebuild the affected areas."

"If we take a small percentage from FAAC and put it as a disaster relief fund, which will include all of you, we will be activating and strengthening our sense of belonging."

Tinubu also thanked several governors, including Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, Sokoto State Governor Ahmad Aliyu, Kogi State Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, and others, for their support regardless of political differences.

The president praised Borno State Governor Professor Babagana Zulum for his quick response and the Nigerian military's Theatre Command for their evacuation efforts that saved many lives. He also expressed his sympathy to the people and government of Yobe State and other states affected by flooding.

He promised continued support for disaster victims, saying, "For all the people of Yobe State, I sympathize with you. We will create an outstanding program for Nigeria to recover from this calamity. We will build our nation together."

Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who joined the president on the visit, said that the National Assembly will work with the executive to set up the disaster relief fund.

Earlier this week, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) confirmed that at least 281 inmates have escaped from a prison in Borno state during Maiduguri flooding.