Mokwa Flood: Tinubu approves ₦2 Billion, 20 trucks of food aid for victims

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sanctioned the immediate release of ₦2 billion for the reconstruction of homes destroyed by the recent catastrophic flooding in Mokwa, Niger State.

The development was announced by Vice President Kashim Shettima during a visit to the affected area, where the disaster claimed numerous lives and caused widespread displacement.

While addressing the community, the Vice President assured residents of the Federal Government’s unwavering support. He disclosed that President Tinubu had also authorised the deployment of 20 trucks loaded with assorted food items to provide immediate relief to victims.

“In addition, the President has directed the urgent repair of damaged bridges and the rehabilitation of the town’s drainage systems,” Shettima stated.

He further revealed that the Minister of State for Agriculture has been instructed to temporarily relocate to Minna for one week to supervise the distribution of food items and ensure effective delivery.

“The President has directed that ₦2 billion be spent, in collaboration with the Niger State Government, to rebuild homes destroyed by this flood. Human life cannot be compensated. That is why the President is deeply empathetic and genuinely concerned about the hardship facing our people,” the Vice President said.

He added that the Federal Ministry of Works has received orders to commence immediate reconstruction of four destroyed bridges, which he described as critical transportation links between the southern and northern parts of the country.

Meanwhile, the extent of the devastation in Mokwa continues to alarm both residents and officials. Niger State’s Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs, Ahmad Suleiman, confirmed that over 200 bodies had been recovered, though search and rescue efforts are still ongoing.

“We have found more than 200 bodies, but the search is not over. At this point, it is impossible to give a precise figure for the casualties because we are still recovering corpses,” Suleiman said in an interview with Channels Television.

He noted that the state government had activated an emergency response in conjunction with federal agencies. However, displaced persons living in temporary shelters have reported inadequate relief and poor living conditions.

One displaced resident, Mama Isah, expressed her frustration: “We are 17 people in my household, but we were only given one loaf of bread and some tea. That cannot even feed us for breakfast.”

Despite these concerns, government officials have pledged to scale up relief distribution and improve the conditions in makeshift camps, as recovery and reconstruction efforts are set to commence in earnest.