President Bola Tinubu, on Monday, said the federal government would create a disaster relief fund to assist Nigerian citizens impacted by floods and other disasters.

The president made the announcement when he visited Borno to sympathise with the government and people over the flooding in some parts of the state occasioned by Alau Dam.

He said the fund was expedient as the climate had become more unpredictable and many places in the country were vulnerable to its vagaries.

He said the federal government would collaborate with the private sector to establish the fund.

President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, who accompanied the president on the visit, said the National Assembly would collaborate with the executive to establish the fund.

Mr Tinubu also visited the Shehu of Borno, Abubakar Ibn El-Kanem palace, an internally displaced persons camp at the Government Secondary School in Maiduguri and drove through the areas affected by the disaster.

“After my visit to the Shehu of Borno and the IDP camp, I have been reflecting on how to tackle this kind of disaster and the effects of climate change.  

“There must be a disaster relief fund. I will invite the private sector to team up with us and help rebuild the affected areas.

“If we take a small percentage from FAAC and put it as disaster relief fund, which will include all of you, we will be activating and strengthening our sense of belonging,” he said.  

The president thanked Gov. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq of Kwara, chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum and Gov. of Bauchi state, Bala Mohammed, Sokoto state Governor, Ahmad Aliyu; and Kogi Governor, Ahmed Ododo, who supported Borno.

Mr Tinubu commended all the ministries, agencies, and security outfits, particularly the military involved in the evacuation of the victims and international organisations working in the state, for their efforts.

(NAN)