President Buhari has given Water Resources Minister a deadline to produce a master plan against floods.
Newsonline reports that President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Minister of Water Resources to lead and coordinate with the Ministries of Environment and Transportation as well as State Governments to develop a Comprehensive Plan of Action for Preventing Flood Disasters in Nigeria.
This online news understands that Buhari’s directive, which was conveyed to the Minister in a letter signed by his Chief of Staff, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, said the plan should be presented to him in 90 days.
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A terse statement by Garba Shehu on Monday broke the information to reporters in Abuja.
It added that President Buhari is regularly receiving updates on the flooding situation in the country and restates his commitment to addressing the challenges caused by the disaster in the country.
It is not clear whether the President’s directive is in reaction to criticism from some Nigerians who have accused the Federal Government of paying lip service to the flooding challenges.
A recent report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) over the weekend had put over 1.5 million children at risk of dropping out of schools and facing imminent health challenges owing to the flood situation which has reportedly affected 34 states out of 36 in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, the wife of the president, Muhammadu Buhari, Aisha Buhari, has sent a sum of N2 million and 500 wrappers to flood victims in Koton Karfe IDP Camp, Kogi State.
The relief materials and money were presented to the flood victims by a delegation from the Tinubu/Shettima Women Presidential Campaign Team, led by the Co-Chairman, Hajiya Nana Shettima and the National Coordinator, Dr. Asabe Vilita Bashir, to commiserate with flood victims.
In a release by the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, “the visit to Koton Karfe IDP camp, where they donated relief materials sent by H.E. the First Lady, Dr. Aisha Buhari. Mrs. Shettima also made a donation of N2million and 500 wrappers to relief efforts.”
However, the Special Assistant on Digital Communications to President Muhammadu Buhari, Bashir Ahmad, has slammed the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, following items donated by his support groups to Bayelsa flood victims.
While the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, donated a sum of N5 million naira to the flood victims, his supporters – after the former Anambra State governor had gone to Anambra where he made another donation of N5 million – donated some relief materials including mosquito nets, mattresses, noodles and other items.
Reacting to the items donated in Bayelsa and Anambra by his supporters, Bashir Ahmad said, “A former governor and presidential candidate donating a grinding machine and 24 loaves of bread to thousands of flood victims. Comrade, we are in 2022 for God’s sake. We urge you to respect your family and correct it.”
He added, “Wow. Four bags of rice, 14 cartons of indomie noodles, around 50 set of blankets, 24 loaves of bread, a generator among other unverified stuff donated to thousands of families affected by floods in Anambra by a former governor of the state and a current presidential candidate.”
Bashir added, “I am urging the former Governor of Anambra State to do more for his people. The State helped him to become a billionaire, and now in their time of need he is busy donating a grinding machine and loaves of bread.”