The federal government’s efforts to bring succor to flood victims in the northern parts of the country received a boost on Wednesday as the Chinese government donated $1 million to the relief drive.
Signing the exchange notes on the financial support with the Chinese Ambassador, Mr. Yu Dunhai, in Abuja, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, expressed appreciation for the humanitarian gesture of the Chinese government, noting that it signified the growing cooperation between the two nations in areas such as trade, infrastructure, technology, agriculture, and now, disaster relief.
He expressed optimism that the initiative will open new avenues for collaboration, strengthening strategic partnership for the mutual benefit of people in both countries. The minister welcomed the intervention as a timely boost to the national relief efforts, emphasizing that it would complement the government’s ongoing efforts to provide relief materials and rebuild the livelihoods of people in severely impacted areas.
He assured that the grant would be managed within a transparent framework designed to maximize its impact. Speaking earlier, Ambassador Dunhai expressed China’s empathy and solidarity with Nigeria, recalling that both countries recently faced the destructive impact of flooding. He recalled that China suffered flooding around the same time as Nigeria, noting that several lives were lost in Beijing’s suburbs in July. He emphasized that the grant demonstrates China’s confidence in Nigeria’s capacity to recover and rebuild.
The Chinese aid is especially timely as it focuses on communities in the states most affected by recent flooding, including Kebbi, Jigawa, Sokoto, Borno, Taraba, and Adamawa. The intervention will significantly enhance the government’s ongoing efforts to deliver relief materials and restore livelihoods in areas severely affected.
