The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), has paid a condolence visit to the Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Zulum, and the Shehu of Borno, His Highness Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi, following the recent flood disaster that caused significant loss of life, displacement of hundreds of thousands of residents, and destruction of properties in Maiduguri and its surrounding areas.
During his visit on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, Marwa expressed his deep concern over the magnitude of the flood’s impact on the people, their livelihoods, and the environment.
As a former Military Governor of the old Borno State, Marwa said he felt personally moved by the devastation the flood had caused.
In a statement released by Femi Babafemi, Director of Media & Advocacy at the NDLEA Headquarters in Abuja, Marwa revealed that, in response to the disaster, he reached out to a fertilizer company he has connections with, seeking their support.
The company responded by donating high-yield fertilizers equivalent to ten trailer loads, valued at N120 million.
These fertilizers will be distributed by the state government to farmers affected by the flood to assist in their return to farming, thereby helping to prevent a potential famine in the coming months.
Reflecting on his time as a former military governor of Borno State, Marwa remarked, “I understand the enormity of the destruction caused by this flood. The impact on people’s lives, their homes, and their means of livelihood is overwhelming. With the information coming out regarding the number of lives lost, the displaced persons, the properties damaged, and the vast areas affected, this could be the worst natural disaster to ever hit a single city in Nigeria’s history.”
Marwa emphasized the importance of collective effort in addressing the aftermath of the disaster.
He noted, “This is why I made the trip to Borno to express my condolences to Governor Zulum, the state government, our royal father, the Shehu of Borno, and all the people of the state. This situation requires the support of well-meaning Nigerians to assist the efforts of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima, and the state government in alleviating the suffering of the affected population.”
He acknowledged the state’s ongoing efforts, saying, “I know the state government has been working tirelessly to respond to this disaster. Their focus will likely be on short, medium, and long-term strategies. In the short term, the immediate needs include providing food, water, medicines, financial assistance, and temporary shelter. In the medium term, the goal would be to restore people’s lives to normalcy, such as getting them back to their farms, which have been devastated by the flood. That’s why we have facilitated the donation of high-yield fertilizers worth N120 million, which will help farmers get back to work and prevent famine in the months ahead.”
Both Governor Zulum and the Shehu of Borno expressed their gratitude to Marwa for his visit and his kind gesture, appreciating his efforts to support the state and its people during this difficult time.
