By: TUNDE BOLAJI –MINNA.
Niger State Government has redeemed its financial pledge to the victims of the mining explosion at Sabon Pegi community in Mashegu local government area of the state by governor Umar Bago.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony at Sabon Pegi, the wife of the governor, Hajiya Fatima Mohammed Bago, advised the residents to stop keeping harmful objects that can explode or kill and injure people in residential areas to avoid destruction and killing of innocent lives.
She assured the people of the community that the administration of Governor Umaru Bago will continue to prioritize the welfare of the people above any other things.
She also used the occasion to appreciate the wife of the President and First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for coming to the aid of the Sabon Pegi community over the unfortunate situation by donating the sum of N100million to alleviate the suffering of the victims of Sabon Pegi dynamite explosions.
The governor’s wife admonished the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the money and the materials they received from the government.
In his brief remarks, the state Commissioner of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hon Ahmed Baba Suleiman Yumu, appreciated the gesture of the state governor and that of Senator Oluremi Tinubu and assured that his ministry will continue to deliver on the mandate of the governor.
Also in her remarks, the Permanent Secretary Barr. Mario Mohammed Mann, while commending Governor Umaru Bago for the gesture, appealed to the people to guard against future recurrence, adding that the government could replace everything that was lost but to ameliorate the suffering of the victims.
It would be recalled that Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago, during his visit to sympathize with the victims of the explosion, donated N174 million.
The Governor explained that N5 million each should be given to those whose houses were totally destroyed, N2 million to those partially damaged, N1 million to the injured, N2 million to the families of the deceased, and N1 million each to those whose vehicles were affected.
He said the cash donation was to provide succor to the victims, adding that a committee would be set up to ensure the judicious sharing of the money.
He acknowledged that the area has large deposits of gold and lithium in the state and is characterized by artisanal mining, resulting in insecurity in the area as they have explosives and guns in their possessions.
He called on the people to surrender their explosives and other dangerous weapons they used to the relevant stakeholders for safe storage instead of keeping them in their houses.
The items distributed were 50kg bags of rice, bags of maize, salt, vegetable oil, mattresses, blankets, etc.
