By Enyeh Julius Akpovire
Foremost businessman and chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has announced the donation of N1billion to assist those affected by the recent devastating flood in Maiduguri, Borno State capital.
Dangote explained that while the Presidential Committee on Flood and Disaster, which he chairs, has committed N1billion to cause, the Dangote Foundation will donate an additional N1billion.
“We have a Presidential Committee on Flood and Disaster which I chair. They have already committed about N1billion, and the Aliko Dangote Foundation will also give another N1billion. We will definitely give this N2billion as early as this coming week,” Dangote said.
He announced the donations on Friday when he paid a sympathy visit to Borno State governor, Babaaana Umara Zulum, in Maiduguri, over the recent flood disaster that affected the state.
Meanwhile, the businessman has solicited the support of other Corporate Nigerians to Borno State Government in order to address the destruction caused by the flood in Maiduguri and its environs.
“It’s really mind-boggling; it is disastrous. I have never seen this kind of overwhelming disaster. I think it is going to be a herculean task in the couple of days and even weeks for this situation to go back to normal. Most of the houses would not survive because they had been submerged and the foundations had weakened.
“I am calling on all Corporate Nigerians to rise up and support because the government can not do it alone. We really need to help make sure that people do not continue to suffer. Some of them have been in their houses for the last three days. It has really touched my heart to see how people suffered.
“We would continue to mobilise other funds and resources to see what we can do to alleviate the suffering of our people,” he stated.
He was accompanied on the visit by the governor of Nasarawa State, Engr. Abdullahi Sule.
Responding, Governor Zulum expressed gratitude to Alhaji Dangote for his support to the people of Borno State.
