Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has lauded the federal government’s initiative in establishing a disaster relief fund.
The apex Islamic body under the leadership of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, said though the initiative was long overdue, it welcomed the development aimed at ensuring 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.
“Since a stitch in time saves nine, this initiative will go a long way in entrenching proactive and preemptive measures against disasters, not just reactive ones that are in place,” the council said in a statement signed by its deputy secretary-general, Prof. Salisu Shehu, yesterday.
The Council however noted that, barely two weeks after the unfortunate flood incident in Maiduguri, which, according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), submerged 70% of the city and displaced over a million residents, the Borno State government has announced the opening of a dedicated Flood Relief Account to address the needs of the victims.
It urged well-meaning Nigerians and non-Nigerians alike to kindly support the cause by contributing to the Account (details below), while also enjoining those who are in positions to make major interventions in that regard:
ACCOUNT NAME: BORNO ST. FLOOD DISASTER RELIEF
BANK: ZENITH BANK ACCOUNT
NUMBER: 1313556361