The Kano State Government has donated 52 truckloads of relief materials to flood victims in neighbouring Niger Republic.
The items include 5,000 bags of maize, 5,000 bags of millet, 5,000 bags of guinea corn, 5,000 blankets, 5,000 pieces of “Shadda’’ brocade and 5,000 pieces of female textile wax.
Gov. Rabi’u Kwankwaso, who presented the items at Bandirawo, Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area of the state, said that the donation was aimed at alleviating the suffering of the flood victims.
“The gesture is a way of expressing our appreciation for our relationship with Niger Republic,’’ he said.
Kwankwaso, who spoke about the long-standing relations existing between Kano State and Niger Republic, stressed the need for people to be their brothers’ keepers so as to strengthen harmonious living.
He promised to continue to work with the Nigerien government in efforts to promote socio-economic ties between Kano State and Niger Republic.
The governor, who noted that many states in Nigeria, including Kano State, were equally affected by floods, stressed that the state government also assisted flood victims in the country with relief materials.
Kwankwanso expressed the optimism that the relief materials would cushion the effects of the flood disaster on the victims.
He, however, appealed to the people of Kano State, who were living in flood-prone areas, to relocate from the areas to safer places.
The governor said that the state government would reconstruct houses affected by floods in Makoda, Kunchi and Warawa Local Government Areas.
In his remarks, the former National PDP Chairman, Chief Vincent Ogbulafor, commended the state government’s gesture, saying that the donation would alleviate the sufferings of the flood victims.
He, nonetheless, advised the Nigerien authorities to ensure that the items were used for their intended purpose.
Also speaking, Alhaji Umar Saidou-Isiaka, the governor of Zinder in Niger Republic and Alhaji Muhamman Rabi’u, the Emir of Tirmini, also in Niger Republic, thanked the Kano State Government for its benevolence.
They said that the gesture would go a long way in strengthening the cordial relations existing between the people of the state and Niger Republic.