Some victims of the recent flood in Mokwa, Niger State, have complained that they were left out of the N1 billion compensation released by the state government.
The victims spoke with reporters in Mokwa on Saturday.
It will be recalled that Governor Umaru Bago approved N1 billion in June to support victims of the flood. He announced that 458 affected households would each receive N1 million and 25 bags of grains — including rice, maize, sorghum, and millet.
The governor also said that families of the 209 people who died would each receive N1 million, while 280 house and shop owners would get N500,000 to help with rebuilding.
But after the distribution, some victims claimed that the process was not fair and that many affected people did not get any support.
One of them, Farida Abubakar, said she lost her mother, who was the family’s breadwinner, during the flood.
She alleged that when she tried to register her name for compensation, the committee told her she was not qualified because she had no husband.
“I have three younger siblings. We barely eat and sleep at Tiffin-Maza Primary School because I cannot afford rent for a house,” she said.
Another victim, 74-year-old Yusuf Isah, said he built a small hut for his wife and eight children after their rented home was destroyed.
“When the flood washed away everything we had, my landlord collected the money meant for us. He got N1 million as a household head and N500,000 as the house owner, but he did not share with me. He only gave me three bags of grains,” he said.
Hussaina Zakari, another victim, said she lost all her belongings while she was away at her father’s burial.
“I came back to meet my house flooded. The only help I received was grains. I did not get any cash. I now live in an IDP camp with my children and siblings. NGOs have been the ones giving us food and other needs,” she said.
Farida Isiaku, who lost her husband, six children, her co-wife and three of her co-wife’s children, confirmed she received N12 million compensation. She said she used the money to rent a house and shared the rest with her husband’s family and her co-wife’s family.
The Sarkin Hausawa of Mokwa, Tanko Bala, said the Hausa community was among the most affected and thanked the government for its support. However, he admitted that some victims were still not compensated.
“Some households that were supposed to get N1 million were given N1.5 million, and some house owners that were supposed to get N500,000 ended up with N1.5 million,” he alleged.
Dauda Liman, Chairman of the Mokwa Flood Relief Distribution Committee, said the distribution was done in three batches.
He explained that some victims were not captured because they had moved to other communities due to trauma, but returned only after the relief exercise had begun.
He also appealed to the state government to release the remaining 20 trucks of grains from the 50 promised by the governor.
Salihu Garba, Director of Relief and Rehabilitation at the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), said the agency worked with local groups to identify and support victims.
He admitted that not all victims were reached and said that was why a complaints desk was opened.
“Some victims were too traumatized to come forward during the registration, while others had relocated. We are aware of the gaps and will address them,” he said.
Garba added that 30 trucks of food had already been delivered and cash payments to households, families of deceased victims, and house owners had been completed.
He praised local groups, including the Mokwa Youth Forum, Ja’maatul Islam, the Christian Association of Nigeria, the Ndalile of Mokwa, and the Sarkin Hausawa for their help in identifying victims.
The Mokwa Flood Relief Distribution Committee is made up of the Ministry of Humanitarian and Disaster Management, NSEMA, and Mokwa Local Government.
