Kebbi Inaugurates Relief C’ttee

The Kebbi State Government last week inaugurated a new committee to distribute relief materials so far received to last year’s flood victims.

The inauguration of a new committee followed allegations of non performance levied against the former flood relief committee set up to distribute relief materials.

The Deputy Governor of the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Aliyu, who inaugurated the new 14-member committee in Birnin Kebbi, urged it to re-examine an assessment report of the flood submitted by a working group.

He directed the new committee led by Prof. Abubakar Gwandu to take over the relief materials received and identify areas as well as victims that had collected their share.

Our correspondent  reports that the committee is to develop strategies on how to rehabilitate affected structures and resettle the victims of the flood.

It is also to constitute sub-committees which are to partner with emirates and local government areas to distribute all the relief materials to victims.

Aliyu said the committee could solicit and receive assistance from local, national and international donors as well as individuals.

He said the committee had three months within which to implement all action plans.

While handing over N828 million to Gwandu at the inauguration ceremony, Alhaji Bello Tugga, Chairman of the former committee, said the amount was part of the financial assistance received from donors.

He said the amount was received from the federal and state governments as well as corporate organiasations and individuals.

Tugga further said that foodstuff and drugs were received from donors and released to victims.

He said the findings of the committee indicated that five people died while 329 villages and 43,685 structures were destroyed by the flood.

“Three bridges were also destroyed by the flood,” he added.

Tugga described as false the claim that the earlier committee had mismanaged the financial and material assistance received from donors.

In his remarks, the chairman of the new committee, said members would work diligently to achieve the purpose for which they were appointed.