The Defence Minister of Nigeria, Mohammed Badaru, has donated ₦20 million to support the victims of the recent flood in Jigawa State.
The donation was made during his visit to the state on Saturday, August 24, 2024, where he met with Governor Umar Namadi at the Government House in Dutse.
During the visit, Minister Badaru expressed his condolences to the state government and the families affected by the disaster.
He noted that the flood had severely impacted 148 communities across 14 local government areas, affecting about 50,000 people and over 11,500 households.
“Over 148 communities were affected,” Badaru said. “7,500 households were affected, over 50,000 people were affected, and about 11,500 farmlands were also affected while we lost 33 indigenes of the state as a result of this affliction.”
The minister emphasized that the donation was a personal effort to help alleviate the suffering of the victims. He also encouraged the governor and the affected families to see the natural disaster as a test from Almighty Allah, urging them to take necessary measures to minimize further damage.
In response, Governor Namadi expressed his gratitude to the Defence Minister for personally visiting the state despite his busy schedule in Abuja. He thanked the minister not only for his visit but also for the generous donation.
“You still decided to be here physically, not only to condole us but to also donate a sum of money amounting to ₦20 million. May Allah reward you,” the governor said. “I am sure so many people in Abuja are also sympathizing with you. This situation is for all of us.”
The flood in Jigawa has been described as the worst the state has experienced, according to the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA). SEMA reported that the floods have led to 50 deaths across the 27 local government areas in the state, with the Kafin Hausa district being the worst hit.
Yusuf Sani, the head of Jigawa’s SEMA, noted that the state had faced continuous rain for three days, which significantly worsened the situation. “The last few days have been quite challenging as rain fell for three days non-stop,” he said.
Emergency workers have been deployed to the affected communities to assist the displaced, with many residents from the worst-hit areas, like Balangu village, now living in temporary shelters.
The situation could worsen in the coming days due to more expected heavy rains and the imminent release of water from the Komadugu River. Residents along the riverbanks have been advised to evacuate to safer areas.
The overflow of rivers from neighboring Kano State into Jigawa has also contributed to the flooding, and local officials have pointed to climate change, insufficient drainage, and illegal constructions on waterways as factors exacerbating the disaster.
