The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) under the leadership of its President-General and the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has commended the federal government for establishing a disaster relief fund which has received a nod from the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
Prof. Salisu Shehu, NSCIA Deputy Secretary-General, on Friday in a statement, said though long overdue, the council welcomes the development which aims to ensure rapid and efficient response to the needs of disaster victims nationwide.
“We actually consider it a right step in the right direction. The council expects that, in addition to disaster/emergency management, a department/unit of government should be saddled with the responsibility of undertaking disaster prevention.
“The department/unit should have the necessary mechanisms and frameworks to reduce to the barest minimum, if not fully prevent, the occurrence of disasters,” Prof. Shehu said.
He said since a stitch in time saves nine, this initiative will go a long way in entrenching proactive and pre-emptive measures against disasters, not just reactive ones that are in place.
Meanwhile, barely two weeks after the flood incident in Maiduguri, which, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), submerged 70 per cent of the city and displaced over a million residents, the Borno State government announced the opening of a dedicated Flood Relief Account to address the needs of the victims.
“The council urged all well-meaning Nigerians and non-Nigerians alike to kindly support the cause by contributing to the Account: BORNO ST. FLOOD DISASTER RELIEF
BANK: ZENITH BANK
ACCOUNT NUMBER: 1313556361 while also enjoining those who are in positions to make major interventions in that regard,” he said.
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