In the wake of the recent collapse of a section of the Alau Dam in Konduga Local Government Area, which led to catastrophic flooding in Maiduguri, Borno State, the state government has received at least N14.7bn in sympathy donations, THE WHISTLER findings show.
The flood, which began on September 10, submerged communities in Maiduguri, Jere and displaced an estimated 400,000 households.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reports that the death toll has risen to 30, with significant damage caused to public infrastructure including the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, the zoo, roads, and the state’s correctional centre.
In response to the crisis, five states — Adawama, Kano, Gombe, Bauchi, and Taraba — contributed a total of N600m to the relief efforts.
A breakdown showed that Adamawa donated N50m; Kano donated N100m; Gombe donated N100m; Bauchi donated N250m and Taraba donated N100m respectively.
The Presidential Committee on Flood and Disaster, chaired by Aliko Dangote, also donated N1bn.
THE WHISTLER reports several other organisations have come to the aide of the victims: The Thinklab Group Limited contributed N30m, and the United Nations provided $6m, which is valued at N9.87bn based on the Central Bank’s exchange rate of N1,645.626 as of September 16.
Members of the National Assembly announced their donation on Sunday. THE WHISTLER findings showed that a total of N602m was donated by 14 legislators.
The legislators include Sen. Ali Ndume- N50m; Sen. Ali Sheriff- N100m; Hon. Ali Dalori- N50m; Sen. MT Monguno- N50m; Sen. Kaka Lawan- N50m; Hon. Aliyu Betara- N100m; Hon. Abdulkadir Rahis- N25m and Hon. Ibrahim Abuna- N25m.
Others include Hon. Usman Zannah- N10m; Hon. Bukar Talba- N10m; Hon. Yerima Kareto – N2m; Abdussalam Kachallah- N100m; Awari Alkali- N20m and Sen. Maina Lawan- N10m.
Among individual contributors include former PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, who donated N100m, businessman and philanthropist, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, have N1.5bn, and ex-presidential media aide Reno Omokri has contributed N500,000.
The scale of the disaster has been severe, with NEMA Director-General Zubaida Umar, reporting last week that at least 259 people have died and over one million individuals have been affected across 29 states in 2024.
Donations To Borno Flood Victims Hit N14.7bn In Seven Days is first published on The Whistler Newspaper