The National Assembly has donated N174 million to victims of the recent flooding in Maiduguri, Borno State. The donation includes N74 million from the Senate and N100 million from the House of Representatives.
On Tuesday, the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, led a Senate delegation to Maiduguri on behalf of Senate President Godswill Akpabio. Jibrin announced that each of the 108 senators would contribute N500,000, totalling N54 million. He personally contributed N10 million. Additionally, the Northern Senators’ Forum donated another N10 million, bringing the total Senate contribution to N74 million.
Jibrin, who was received by Borno State Governor Prof. Babagana Zulum at the Government House in Maiduguri, said, “Whatever touches Borno has touched the entire country. This is why I’m here with some of my colleagues, even though the President of the Senate was here yesterday (Monday) representing the Senate as a whole.
“When the President of the Senate came, he did not disclose what we intended to donate. The situation of the victims profoundly touches us. After our meeting yesterday, we agreed to donate the sum of N54 million. Each senator is donating N500,000, totaling N54 million. Personally, I am donating N10 million. I pray that this flood will not occur again in Borno State and the entire country.”
The Senate delegation also visited Senator Baba Kaka Garbai, who represented Borno Central in the eighth Senate, to offer condolences following the passing of his mother last week.
Senators present included Abdulaziz Yar’Adua, Chairman of the Northern Senators Forum; Adetokunbo Abiru, Chairman of the Southern Senators’ Forum; Ikra Aliyu Bilbis (Zamfara Central); Onawo Ogoshi (Nasarawa South); and Sadiq Umar (Kwara North). Other senators included Diket Plang (Plateau Central), Babangida Hussaini (Jigawa North-West), Pam Mwadkon Dachungyang (Plateau North), Mohammed Tahir Monguno (Borno North), and Kaka Shehu Lawan (Borno Central).
A House of Representatives delegation, led by the Chairman of the Northern Regional Caucus, Alhassan Doguwa, also visited Maiduguri. Doguwa announced the House’s intervention on behalf of Speaker Tajudeen Abbas. He commended President Bola Tinubu for his prompt response to the plight of the state’s people.