NEMA assures Bauchi disaster victims of FG assistance

THE National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has assured victims of the windstorm and fire disasters in Bauchi state that relief will soon their ways from the federal government just as the State Governor, Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar urged the victims of last Saturday’s windstorm as well as Sunday’s market fire to exercise patience as government starts distribution of relief materials before embarking on reconstruction of houses and markets as well as rehabilitation of homes and shops.

Director-General of NEMA, Engineer Mustapha Yerima Maihaja gave the assurance when visited Bauchi state on assessment Wednesday while the Governor made the call while receiving the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, who paid him a courtesy visit.

The Governor said that already a high-powered committee has been constituted to ascertain the number of victims of the windstorm and the Azare market fire incident with a view to determining the level of destruction suffered from the two disasters.

Mohammed Abubakar also said that he has spoken with President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday on the two disasters and the President had extended his condolences and commiserations to the people of Bauchi state, which he said he has passed on to the Emirs of Bauchi and Katagum.

The Governor commended the President for the concern shown by the Federal Government over the two disasters and urged the people to come out and give the President their usual warm welcome whenever he arrives the state on a condolence visit.

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The Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency, Engineer Mustapha Yerima Maihaja who condoled with the people of Bauchi state over the disasters, told the governor that he was in the state to get firsthand information on the windstorm that affected most of the local government areas of the state.

Mustapha Maihaja lamented that just before the state overcome the shock that followed the windstorm, a fire incidence struck, razing a market in Azare, and explained that NEMA office in Gombe has been directed to assess the level of destruction resulting from the Azare fire incidence.

The Director-General assured of Federal Government’s support wherever such incidences occur.