The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission has donated the sum of N640 million to Nigeria in support of victims of flood disasters that recently ravaged Borno and Bauchi States, North-East Nigeria.
The donation, which was announced by the Commission Friday, comprised the sum of N320 million each to Borno and Bauchi states, respectively.
The ECOWAS Commissioner for Human Development and Social Affairs, Prof. Fatou Sow Sarr, had announced the donation on behalf of the President of the Commission, Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, during a courtesy visit to Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation the previous day in Abuja.
Prof. Sarr had extended the heartfelt condolences of ECOWAS President to President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, and to all Nigerians over the unfortunate incident which claimed the lives of many people, displaced huge populations and destroyed properties worth trillions of Naira.
She however commended the Nigerian government for the swift response to the incident as well as its continued humanitarian assistance to the victims and affected communities.
While acknowledging that ECOWAS region has experienced extreme weather conditions over the years due to climate change and other related factors such as flood, which have destroyed lives and properties and left populations and communities traumatised with weakening coping thresholds, the Commissioner reaffirmed ECOWAS’ commitment and continued support to Nigeria and other member states.
“The ECOWAS Commission stands firmly with the government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in these difficult periods. In the event of this disaster, the government of Nigeria has demonstrated its resoluteness even in times of need.”
To demonstrate our solidarity to the people of Nigeria, especially the victims and the communities affected, and to address the immediate effect of the disaster critically affecting women, children and other vulnerable groups with thousands of people in need of humanitarian services such as food, shelter, water, sanitation, emergency health and protection needs, the ECOWAS Commission is donating the sum of over N320 million for assistance to the victims of the flood in Borno State and the sum of over N320 million for assistance to the victims of the flood in Bauchi State.”
Responding, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mr. Abel Enitan, thanked the ECOWAS Commission for its continued support to Nigeria and pledged to use the donations judiciously to support victims of flooding and affected communities in Borno and Bauchi States.
“On behalf of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I want to most honourably and sincerely thank and appreciate ECOWAS for its magnanimity and continued support to Nigeria.
“The donation of N650 million to support the victims of flooding and affected communities in Bauch and Borno States symbolises ECOWAS’ continued solidarity to Nigeria in this trying period. It also demonstrates the Commission’s unwavering support to President Tinubu, who is also the current President of ECOWAS”, Enitan said.
