Flood: Victims lament meagre N2.2m compensation from government

Victims of the flood disaster, which displaced 100 persons and submerged tens of houses and mosques in Awuru Gungu, old Awuru and Tunga Tanko communities of Borgu Local Government Area of Niger State have expressed shock over what they described as the meagre N2.2 million expended by the state government on them for relief materials.
The state government on Tuesday in Awuru Gungu, old Awuru and Tunga Tanko communities distributed relief materials to those dislodged by the flood, which occurred over the weekend.
Some of the affected persons who spoke to our correspondent said the government was not being considerate to them because all they did was to bring very scanty items that will not go round to every person.
According to Usman Mohammed, whose house was submerged: “What will food items do to give me and my families shelter?
“We appreciate the little they have brought to us but the government can do better.
“What will N2.2 million do for three communities in Borgu?
“We are yet to get shelter.
“They claimed they gave us alternative place.
“Have they built it and we did not go to stay?”
The Niger State Government through the Special Adviser to the Niger State Governor on Emergency and Disaster Management, Alhaji Mohammed Saba, expended the sum of N2.2 million in the provision of relief materials for the over 100 people displaced by flood in the three communities in Borgu Local Government Area in Niger State.
According to Saba: “Government had to make the move to alleviate the suffering of the people before other things are put in place.”
He blamed the people of the community for their refusal to move to the settlement the state government had provided for them, adding that their refusal was the cause of the problem.
The state government provided people of the community with 100 bags of rice, 10 carton of milk, 10 cartons of spaghetti, 100 bags of semovita, 40 cartons of noodles and 25 jerry can of palm oil.
Others included 10 bags of salt, 10 bags of sugar, 20 cartons of soap, 10 jerry cans of palm oil, 10 cartons of maggi, 10 bags of gari and 2000 boxes of matches.
The state government appealed to the people of Awuru Gungu, old Awuru and Tunga Tanko to relocate to the new Awuru where the state government has already provided them with a hospital and bore hole.