Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto says the state government would need over N20 billion to fix the damages caused by this year’s flood disaster.
The governor was speaking Tuesday while receiving a report from the Dr Muhammad Jabbi Kilgori-led special committee on flood disaster management, held at the council chamber of Government House, Sokoto.
According to him, the cost implication of the damages caused on roads, bridges by the flood exclude that of damages done to primary health centers, clinics, dispensaries and other structures.
“This comprises N15 billion required to construct roads and bridges washed away by the flood and over N5 billion needed for intervention to victims, most of them farmers, as remedy to mitigate their sufferings,” he said.
The committee set up a month ago, was mandated by the state government to undertake a comprehensive assessment of the magnitude and impact of year’s flooding, to source data on the damages wrought on farmlands and livestock as well as recommend ways forward to assist farmers to mitigate the suffering.
The governor said his administration will act promptly on the implementation of the the recommendations of the Kilgori Committee by immediately mobilizing resources.
He thanked the chairman and members of the committee for their commitment, hard work and completion of the job successfully.
Earlier in his address the chairman of the committee Dr. Kilgori, said the committee swung into action after its inauguration by forming a technical team in each of the three senatorial zones in the state.
He said in each of the affected areas the team interacted with community leaders, farmers affected, traditional rulers, and also inspected the flood affected areas, thus generating comprehensive data on the damages.
Dr Kilgori said over 24,300 hectares was washed away by the flood affecting over 14,000 farming families, which include farmlands, livestock, fisheries and other resources.
Among the interventions recommended by the committee to remedy the situation are: procurement of fertilizer, pesticides, water pumping machines, seedling, sprayers among other farming inputs and also other recommendations that will address the causes and recurrence of the flood disaster.
The chairman expressed appreciation to the state government for appointing them to serve in the committee.
