Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State has unveiled plans to establish a Permanent Flood Disaster Emergency Trust Fund to address the recurring challenges of floods and other ecological issues affecting the state adversely.

The governor made this announcement on Friday at the Jigawa State Government House during the inauguration of a flood disaster management committee.

In a statement released on Saturday, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Hamisu Mohammed Gumel, disclosed that the state government aims to create a Permanent Flood Disaster Trust Fund to tackle the persisting flood disasters. He highlighted the objective of the Trust Fund, emphasizing its role as a primary emergency response for the rehabilitation and relief of disaster victims on a sustainable basis. A draft bill has already been produced by the former committee, and further reviews are necessary before finalizing it for appropriate action.

Once the law for the establishment of the Trust Fund is passed and approved, the state will make permanent arrangements in accordance with the law to ensure its proper implementation, the statement added.

Aside from outlining and finalizing operational modalities for the establishment of the Flood Trust Fund, the committee’s responsibilities include reviewing and updating the draft bill for the Trust Fund to facilitate its establishment and funding.

In 2022, Daily Trust reported on floods that displaced at least 11 communities in the Ringim Local Government Area of Jigawa State. According to the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Jigawa recorded the highest number of deaths due to floods across the country, with 91 casualties according to the 2022 flood data. The Jigawa State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) reported that at least 57,000 people were affected by the floods, forcing over 100,000 individuals out of their homes, and causing property losses estimated at N1.5 trillion in 2022.

Rilwan Muhammad; From the News Source: DailyTrust