Mokwa flood victims
Some victims of the devastating Mokwa flood have cried out over the non-fulfilment of promises made by the Niger State Government and the Federal Government.
It was reportsed that the flood, which occurred in May, killed many people and washed away houses.
The disaster attracted donations from the federal and state governments, private individuals, corporate organisations, and NGOs.
The state Deputy Governor Yakubu Garba and chairman of the committee on Mokwa floods said over 207 died during the incident, while 700 were still missing.
Speaking during the on-the-spot assessment of the affected area in June, Governor Umaru Bago, who was out of the country when the incident occurred, announced the state government donation of N1 billion.
In addition to the monetary donation, the governor revealed that the state government will provide ten trucks each of rice, beans, maize, millet, and sorghum to the flood victims.
Similarly, Vice President Kashim Shettima announced the federal government’s donation of N2 billion and 20 trucks of grains to the victims.
He also pledged the federal government resolved to rebuild the community.
However, months after the promises, some victims told Tswangi TV, a Mokwa-based online station, that the promises had yet to be fulfilled.
A victim, Hussaini Umar-Kongila, said half of the victims have not received any support from the government.
“In my estimation only about half of the victims have received the government’s intervention for house rent; others have been left to their fate.
“And this information is in the public; it’s not an allegation. We all saw the beneficiaries during the public ceremony, but since then nothing much has been done. We are not trying to embarrass the government, but we must speak the truth,” he said.
Another victim, Hamza Muhammad, corroborated the claim, saying his father had yet to benefit.
“It’s not true that everyone has been paid. My dad is among those affected, and he hasn’t received anything.
“I have called the leader of NSEMA, Mai Samari, several times, but he keeps making excuses and shifting dates—saying Friday or Monday. We don’t understand the nature of their operations,” he lamented.
Abdulmumin Abdullahi, while expressing his frustration, said, “Yes, it is true some have received compensation, but many have not. I know people who lost loved ones but have not been paid, despite public assurances by the governor and deputy governor. We don’t understand the confusion,” he said.
Another victim, Abubakar Muhammad, said many displaced persons were still living in IDP camps.
“The government saw our poor living conditions here and initially showed great concern.
“We thought they would act immediately. But up till now, many people are still in the camps. They promised to build houses and relocate us, but nobody is telling us how or when that will happen. Some are squatting in incomplete buildings or in other people’s homes,” he explained.
Similarly, another victim, Danladi Godzan, said, “Up till now, they are yet to build houses for us, and nobody is even saying anything,” he said.
Mr Abdullahi Usman, another victim, echoed the same sentiment.
“We are still living in friends’ houses because the government has not fulfilled its promise,” he stated.
However, Talatu Danlami noted that although not all victims had received support, a good number had been compensated.
“A lot of people have received funds to get temporary accommodation pending the construction of the mass housing project. But we don’t know when that will happen,” she said.
When contacted, the spokesman of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, NSEMA, Hussaini Ibrahim, didn’t respond to the phone call and SMS sent to his known phone number.
Also the chairman of the Mokwa Local Government Area, Jibrin Muregi, didn’t respond to our correspondent’s SMS enquiring on the matter.
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