The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has announced a N3b donation to Borno Government for onward distribution to operators of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) affected by the recent flood.

The NEDC Managing Director, Mr Mohammed Alkali, made this known on Tuesday when a delegation of the commission’s board members visited Gov. Babagana Zulum to sympathise with him and people of Borno over the incident.

BRANDPOWER recalls that Maiduguri was seriously hit by a devastating flood following an overflow of water from Alau dam last week.

Alkali said the board had observed that most of those affected in the business cycle by the flood disaster were operators of SMEs businesses.

Maiduguri flood: Zulum seeks support from NEMA, others to resettle victims

“After the review, the board approved the release of N3b to the state government to be distributed to SMEs that were affected.

“The board also gave the directive that the commission should get fully involved in the rehabilitation of the affected facilities as well as attending to environmental issues like cleaning of the town and WASH intervention.

“In terms of immediate intervention, the board, apart from other things already done, approved 20,000 bags of rice, 20,000 cartons of macaroni, and 10,000 gallons of vegetable oil,” Alkali said.

Responding, Gov. Babagana Zulum lauded the sustained support by NEDC, urging it to step up interventions, particularly at this critical time.

He solicited for more collaboration with the state government for effective services to the people.

BRANDPOWER reports that members of NEDC’s board similarly paid a sympathy visit to the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Umar-Garbai El -Kanemi whose palace was also affected.

At the palace, the Board Chairman, Maj.-Gen. Paul Tarfa (rtd), announced a support of N50m to the Emirate.