FCT Minister Gives Succour To Flood Victims

• Donates cooking gas, food items to Trademore residents

BY EDMKND ODOK – The Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr Ramatu Aliyu, has donated 50 pieces of cooking camp gas and assorted food items to assist flood victims in Abuja.

The timely succour came to residents of Trademore Estate in Lugbe area of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) who were recently touched and displaced by rampaging flood

Dr Aliyu, who visited the scene of the incident with some top FCT officials, said the gesture was part of activities marking Nigeria’s 60th independence anniversary celebration.

She however cautioned Abuja residents to stay off waterways, while assuring that the FCT Administration (FCTA) will soon approach the Ecological Funds Office for assistance to mitigate the challenge of flooding within the nation’s capital.

The Minister praised residents of the estate for demonstrating maturity and sense of patriotism during the disaster, stressing that governance was a collective responsibility at all times.

Conveying the FCTA’s good wishes to those affected by the flood, Dr Aliyu said; “I came this afternoon bearing in mind all that has happened to residents of this estate.

“Despite my tight schedules, I still find it pertinent to come here in person to commensurate with you over the loss of life of our brother and the wanton destruction of property.

“I am here to also appeal to you as much as possible before any intervention from the ecological funds office or any relevant government agencies to stay clear of waterways.”

Acknowledging that this year’s rains have been very heavy with colossal damages across the FCT and the country in general, the Minister said; “This also tells us to appeal to our brothers in this estate and other parts who have constructions along the water-line to move to higher ground for now.

“One, it is better to be alive. This is not time to trade blame over who construct what on the waterways. But we are appealing that if you are along the waterline, you have to move before something else happens to you.

“So I want to appeal to you that natural disasters do happen without advance notice. It is not within your powers or that of government.”

Sympathizing with the victims further, Dr Aliyu said; “We feel your pains and we know what it means to lose a life. I want to also thank you for your patience and understanding with the government and the situation we find ourselves in.”

She thereafter used the occasion to challenge Nigerians on celebrating the country’s 60th independence anniversary, maintaining that despite the challenges facing the nation, October 1 every year was worth celebrating.

“No matter the situation we find ourselves, October 1, still remains a day to celebrate. To come of age and to clock a diamond age is not an easy task.

“Whatever anybody will think of Nigeria, we appeal to you to put the country first. Country first will move us forward, but patience and collective responsibility will take us further.”

According to the Minister, “Nation building is a collective responsibility” and all hands must always be on deck to positively move the country forward.

Speaking earlier, Chairman of Trademore Estate Phase 3, Mr Adewale Adenaike, lauded the Minister for her prompt response in easing the sufferings and pains of the flood victims.

He pleaded with the FCTA to urgently address the ugly situation before it gets out of hand, noting that the ecological problem in the estate was beyond the capacity of AMAC.

Mr Adenaike said urgent intervention from the Ecological Funds office in assisting the Estate residents deal with the emergency situation has become imperative. – With agency reports