Vice President Namadi Sambo on Saturday said that the Federal Government had collected N10 billion as donations to resettle flood victims in the country.
“The donations were from individuals and organisations and we shall ensure they got to only the victims,’’ Sambo said in Shendam, Plateau.
He said in his address to the victims and community leaders of flood-ravaged areas in Plateau South, after touring sites in a helicopter.
“The damage is simply unbelievable; very devastating,’’ Sambo declared.
He said that President Goodluck Jonathan was saddened by the development and stressed that the Federal Government was worried over the destruction of farmlands and bridges.
Sambo expressed government’s commitment to ensuring that the victims were settled and advised those affected to be calm.
He said that part of the monies realised had been released to the health minister to check against any outbreak of diseases in the affected areas.
“We also expect some special attention to the camps of the Internally-Displaced Persons (IDPs), so as to ensure that there are no outbreaks of any diseases there in view of the usually abnormal situations there.’’
He said that funds had also been released to the agricultural ministry to purchase special seeds and other farm implements for distribution to farmers in the affected areas.
The vice president said that steps had also been taken to ensure that the items were shared strictly to deserving individuals and communities.
He expressed gratitude to persons and groups that had seen the need to donate to assist the victims.
Sambo promised government’s continued assistance to the victims, pointing out that government had always been committed to people in such circumstances.
“We are with you in this time of disaster and shall provide a shoulder to lean on.
“We are also committed to providing the dividends of democracy to particularly people caught in this difficult condition.’’
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the flood, which hit eight Local Governments, claimed several lives render thousand homeless, washed away many farmlands and bridges. (NAN)