Press release

The Kebbi State Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu has rekindled the hopes of farmers and flood victims whose farmlands, crops and properties were destroyed by flood in various communities of Bunza local government area of Kebbi State.

Bagudu gave the assuarance, Sunday, while commiserating with hundreds of people, especially farmers over the unfortunate flood disaster in their communities.

While sympathising with the flood victims at a remote village of Garahita, Bunza local government, the governor consoled the victims, saying that, the tragedy which led to colossal loss of farm produce, farmlands, houses and lives in some areas was ordained by the Almighty God.

He said that, the flood situation was not peculiar to Kebbi State alone, as many places had been affected.

Bagudu averred that,the federal and state government, as well other agencies were not oblivious of their plights.

According to the Kebbi State Governor , formidable efforts were being made, with a view of taking urgent actions, to come to the aid of myriad of victims.

” My visit here is to sympathise with you and to give some consolation and a glimmers of hope. The Federal , State and local governments will come to your aid soon.

” In some places , we have started distributing relief assistance, I am sure by tomorrow or within the week, the local government will dispatch relief materials to you, In Sha Allahu.”

Bagudu also delivered the sympathy message of President Muhammadu Buhari and other notable distinguished individuals like the Sultan of Sokoto , the Ministers of Agriculture and that of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management who came to the state, in respect of the victims.

The governor assured the farmers of the state government’s plan to vigorously pursue dry season farming, to bolster food production.

This, the governor noted with firm conviction that, it was in order to augument what had been tragically lost to the floods.

He furrher said that. formidable plans were being made to reinvigorate and reenergize farmers by providing improved seeds, fertilizers, water pumping machines and other related needs.

” We will leave no stone unturned in doing the needful by timely support to the farmers, while we are mulling the extension of the repayment of Anchor Borrowers programme loans.

” This is in the bid to further ease the difficulties being faced by the farmers arising from the unfortunate floods” Bagudu, added.

He charged them to fully engage in the dry season farming, organise themselves, as well as identify their needs through their community leaders, who will meet the local government authorities, for prompt actions.

Interestingly, in each of the affected communities the governor visited, the residents and their leaders were asked by the governor to identify their needs and what the local government councils had done to bring succor to them.

Earlier, the Village Head of Garahita, Marafa Manu, narrated their ordeal to the governor as to how they lost their crops , livestock and houses to the floods.

The community leader requested for relief assistance, construction of road to link the village to the main road and a dispensary.

He also happily acknowledged the financial assistance so far extended to them by the local government Chairman.

The Chairman of Bunza local government, Alhaji Bello Mamuda, appreciated the visit and told the governor that, his council had purchased twenty (20) canoes to bolster the transportation of the residents of the adjoining communities.

In the same vein, the local government had bought 400 bags of grains for immediate distribution to the victims.

The Chairman also thanked the governor for supporting them financially, hence , they were able to assist the flood victims .

In all the affected communities visited by the governor, they corroborated the same requests, ranging from the distribution of relief assistance, farming inputs, fertilizers and improved seeds, for dry season farming, as well as the construction of access roads and hospitals.

At Loko village, the Village Head, Hakimi Bello Loko, also requested the governor to assist the community with an access road, farm inputs, fertilizers and a hospital.

According to him , the incumbent governor was the first serving chief executive of the state to come to the village since the creation of the state.

Also at Tungar Lele, the Village Head, Aliyu Kudu, requested the governor to provide medical staff to their 20- bed hospital, in order to cater for the medical needs of the community.

The governor instantly promised will receive immediate government attention, hence, the residents were elated.

He also assured the communities that his administration would look at the possibility of providing access roads to the communities.

In his remarks at Raha, the State House of Assembly Member, representating Bunza constituemcy,, Hon. Bashar Aminu Buhari ( Barrister), acknowledged the efforts and milk of human kindness of the governor over the flood situation across the state.

The lawmaker, while thanking the governor for the visit to his constituency, also assured him of the readiness of Raha farmers to vigorously partake in dry season farming.

The District Head of Raha, Alhaji Haliru Iliyasu Bashar,who was also appreciative of the visit, reiterated the determination of the farmers in the area to go back to their farms, for dry season farming.

Highlight of the visit was the presentation of the 20 Canoes purchased by the Bunza local government council by the governor to Sarkin Ruwa, Umar Bunza.

Bagudu commended Bunza local government council for the initiative, saying: It is highly commendable for the local government to identify one of the basic needs of their communities
”

” I pray and hope that the canoes will be put to good use, for the benefit of the communities.”

The Chairman of the Council, Alhaji Bello Mamuda, also disclosed that, the local government, apart from the purchase of the Canoes, had purchased 400 bags of grains to be distributed to the flood victims.

The flood -ravaged villages visited by the governor in Bunza local government area include, Garahita, Garin Gero,Loko, Tungar Aduwa, Tungar Gumbiri, Tungar Lele, Matseri and Raha.

Governor Bagudu also made a brief stop over at Goron Dutsi Kawara Suru road, where he inspected a large portion of the road and culvert cut off by the rampaging flood.

The Member representating Suru local government, State House of Assembly, Alhaji Umaru Altine Suru, appealed for an urgent attention from the state government to rehabilitate the road, in order to restore movement along the road .

Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu was accompanied on the visit by Alhaji Bashar Aminu, Member, representating Bunza in the State House of Assembly, Professor Muktar Umar Bunza, Commissioner for Higher Education, Chairman of Bunza local government, Alhaji Bello Mamuda, local government officials, Councillors, District and Village Heads, among others.

Signed :

YAHAYA SARKI
Special Adviser SA Media to Kebbi State Governor
20/9/2020