Press Release: Flood: Bagudu Restates Commitment of Kebbi, FG, to Assist Victims in Ngaski and Yauri LGAs

Kebbi State Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, has again restated the commitment of both Kebbi State and Federal Governments to assist the victims of the recent flood disasters that plagued most parts of the state.

Bagudu spoke on Thursday, when he addressed a cross section of the victims of flood in various parts of Ngaski and Yauri Local Government Areas.

The Governor while sympathising with victims of the disaster in Warra said President Muhammadu Buhari and the state government were deeply concerned with the unfortunate tragedy that afflicted various communities in the state.

Bagudu said: “President is once again extending his heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the victims.”

“That was why he recently dispatched two Ministers, that of Agriculture and that of Humanitarian Affairs and Disasters Management.”

“He sent them to the state to assess the extent of the damage caused by the flood, with a view to urgently assisting the victims.”

The Kebbi Governor further pledged to leave no stone unturned until the victims receive succour, rehabilitate them, empower them and help them to rebuild their houses, as well as get back to their farms.

Bagudu further said that, the disasters were divinely ordained, even as he prayed for God to prevent their recurrence.

“If we can recall, some months ago, prayers for rain were offered and now the rains have come and wreaked havoc.”

“Everything comes from the Almighty Allah, just like flood and often, drought. In every situation, we should be thankful to God” Bagudu, admonished.

The governor vowed that, the Federal and Kebbi state governments will assist the victims, including those who lost their farmlands, houses, livestock and others rebuild other damaged infrastructure.

He also pledged that, the state government will do everything humanly possible to reinvigorate the farmers for the forthcoming dry season farming.

This, Bagudu, noted was for the state to maintain its lead as the hub of food production, especially rice, fisheries resources and mining.

Bagudu commended the people of the state for being their brothers’ keepers, urging that, the efforts of the government needed to be well complemented by the people of the state in any way possible.

He said that government would look into deferring the payment of agriculture loan by farmers in view of their lost arising from the flood.

The Chairman of Ngaski local government, Abdullahi Buhari Warra told the governor that the two communities largely affected in Gafara area were Gungun Bidiri and Tungar Baguru.

According to him the local government had since assisted the victims with zinc, cement and some cash.

He thanked the governor for assisting the LGA reach out to victims and urged for more assistance from state and federal government.

In their separate remarks, the lawmaker representing the area, Alhaji Adamu Muhammed Birnin Yauri and Alhaji Mamuda Warra, the Hon. Commissioner of Information and Culture told the governor that the local government was one of the highest rice producing areas in the state, hence the need for assistance to the victims.

Alhaji Adamu Birnin Yauri said on daily basis, over ten trucks load of rice from the area ply the roads to other parts of the state and beyond.

“We produce a lot of rice here, on daily basis over ten trucks load of rice are being transported in and outside the state. Our women too are fully engaged in farming” he said.

The Commissioner of Information and Culture, Alhaji Mamuda Warra appreciated the governor for the visit while pointing out that farmers in the area have lost their farmlands, crops and livestock to the floods.

He urged the government for more assistance and advised the farmers to concentrate on the dry season farming in order to recover what they have lost.

Earlier, one of the victims, Alhaji Shehu Makare told the governor how they lost their crops and property to the flood.

He listed some of the areas affected by the flood in the area and requested for government assistance in terms of relief and farming inputs.

Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu also paid sympathy visit to Gafara village affected by the flood.

The village head, Hamidu Adamu explained to the governor how the flood had affected them listing some of the areas as Bidiri, Kindawa, Gafara Kurgawa, Gafara gari among others.

He lamented that the local government did not carry the community leaders along in the process of distributing relief assistance to victims.

Responding, governor Bagudu expressed displeasure over side lining of the community leaders during the distribution exercise warning that such should not be repeated and orders for investigation into the matter.

The governor told the gathering that each local government prone to flooding in the state was given twenty million naira while others collected fifteen million all in an effort to cushion the hardship of the victims.

The governor had also paid an unscheduled visit to GB Foods in Gafara where he was taken round the company by the site manager, Tunde Jaiyeola and Rebecca Bako, the Community Liaison Officer of the company to see some of the newly installed equipment, tractors and machines.

Shortly after taking the governor round the facility, he told journalists that the company had also planted one thousand hectares of soya beans to complement the dry season farming of tomatoes.

He explained that the company had employed 200 workers on direct labour while targeting a minimum of ten thousand jobs and engaging five thousand out growers.

He however lamented poor participation of women in its activities “the greatest challenge we have is reaching out to women and if we can't reach them there is no way they can be involved.”

The site manager was however grateful with the assurance of the governor for his intervention on the issue.

Governor Bagudu appreciated GB Foods for investing in Kebbi State and commended the commitment of management and staff as well as appreciated their community relations officer for trying to mobilise community members to participate in outgrowing skills.

He averred, “This Investment represent an indication of an increasing investor confidence in Nigeria's economy brought about by the good policies of President Muhammadu Buhari, CBN and other institutions supporting investment and investment derive in the country.”

He pledged continuous support to investors in the state by providing enabling environment for them to thrive.

Bagudu also urged the company to ensure that majority of those who are going to be mobilised are women because Ngaski LGA according to him has hardworking women.

In Yauri local government area, the governor paid a sympathy visit to the Emir and gave similar assurances of the state and federal government assistance to the flood victims.

He thanked the Emirs for their leadership role in the society and urged them to carefully monitor the distribution of relief materials to victims so that the palliatives reached the intended affected flood victims.

The Emir of Yauri, Dr. Zayyanu Abdullahi expressed appreciation for the visit and appealed for the dredging of river Niger which extends to Yauri and regular maintenance of dams to reduce the incidence of flooding.

He lauded governor Bagudu for facilitating the industrial development of Yauri emirate which has manifested in establishment of GB Foods Tomato Processing Factory in Warra and the Dangote rice mill in Shanga local government.

The governor rounded up his visit in Yauri by visiting Tilo Primary School where the displaced flood victims are camped.

Among the governor's entourage were the Commissioner of Information and Culture, Alhaji Muhammdu Mamuda Warra, that of Lands and Housing, Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa Katukan Yauri and member representing the area, Alhaji Adamu Muhammad Birnin Yauri.

The governor was recieved on the visit by the former governor of Kebbi State, Alhaji Abubakar Musa (Garkuwan Yauri), the first civilian governor of the state, the Chairman of Ngaski, Alhaji Abdullahi Buhari Warra, the Chairman of Yauri, Alhaji Bala Muhammed, Alhaji Atiku Alaramma, APC Zonal Vice Chairman, Kebbi South, Alhaji Abdulmalik Nuhu, district heads, politicians among others.

Signed:
YAHAYA SARKI
Special Adviser (SA) Media to Kebbi State Governor
18/9/2020