Make deliberate policies for flood victims – Maku tells Yero

The Minister of Information, Labaran Maku has implored the Kaduna State Governor, Mukhtar Yero  to initiate a deliberate policy  that factors on development plans to take the communities in  flood prone areas to safety.

Labaran Maku made the call during an interactive session between government and the Romi-Karatudu Road Community at the inspection of the road project in Kaduna State lately.

The Minister noted that the people of the community are desirous of developing their areas and called on the State Government to assist the progress of the area; saying the responsibility for resettlement of indigenes in such areas lies with the state and not the Federal Government.

Maku also called for the institution of policies to regulate flood control and resettlement in both urban and rural areas and urged the citizens as well as leaders to obey the laws of the land so that development could take place. He proposed the application of some penalties for those who prove adamant and erect structures along flood – prone areas to discourage such practices in the future.

Speaking earlier, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Yahaya Aminu informed them that the sum of N400million naira was received from Dangote Foundation and distributed to some of the 6,700 identified flood victims from the 21 Local Government Areas of the State for immediate relief.

He also noted that the distribution of the fund was carried out in three phases for purchase of relief materials, food stuff and construction of medical centres and mobile clinics. He acknowledged that the State Government has engaged negotiation with the Dangote Foundation on counterpart funding for the resettlement of people often affected by floods in the area.