Some people wey suffer from di recent heavy flood for Mokwa, Niger State, don come out talk say dem no see shishi from di N1 billion compensation wey Governor Umaru Bago approve to support victims.

Di victims yarn this tori give News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) for interview wey happen on Saturday for Mokwa.

Make we remember say for June, Gov. Bago announce say 458 households go receive N1 million each plus 25 bags of food items — 10 bags of rice, 5 bags of maize, 5 bags of sorghum and 5 bags of millet.

Di governor also promise say:
    •    209 next of kin of people wey die for flood go collect N1 million each
    •    280 house and shop owners go get N500,000 each for rebuilding.

“Dem Tell Me Say I No Get Husband, So I No Qualify” – Farida Lament

But as dem begin share money and food, plenty people come talk say dem no see anything. One of dem, Farida Abubakar, talk say she lose her mama, wey be breadwinner of the family, but when she try benefit from the package, dem bounce her.

“When dem dey write names of people wey lose loved ones, I go submit my name. Dem tell me say I no get husband, so I no qualify,” she talk.

She say she and her three younger siblings dey sleep for one primary school since di flood, and dem dey struggle to see food chop.

Overpayment Wahala and Distribution Palava

One of di committee members, wey no gree make him name show, talk say some people even collect more than wetin dem suppose collect.

“Some wey suppose collect N1 million end up collect N1.5 million. Some house owners wey suppose get N500,000 collect N1.5 million,” he said 

Dauda Liman, Chairman of Mokwa Flood Relief Distribution Committee, talk say di distribution happen in three batches, and di people wey no get anything na mostly those wey run commot from Mokwa after di flood because dem dey traumatised.

When dem hear say dem dey share money and food, dem come back — but by then, list don almost close.

He beg the state government make dem release di remaining 20 out of 50 trucks of food wey dem promise, so di remaining victims go still benefit.

Alhaji Salihu Garba, Director of Relief and Rehabilitation for Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), admit say some victims no enter the list.

“We rely on data from community groups wey help us during search and rescue. We know say some people no dey captured, and that na why we open complaint desk,” he talk.

He explain say di magnitude of di disaster make am hard to capture everybody at once — some people no fit talk, others don relocate.

Garba say dem don deliver 30 out of 50 trucks of food already and cash distribution to affected households don complete for now.

He praise di efforts of Mokwa Youth Forum, Ja’maatul Islam, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), di Ndalile of Mokwa and Sarkin Hausawa for helping to identify victims.

Meanwhile, many victims still dey wait and hope say their names go enter for the next batch — if e go come at all.

People wey flood wound still dey suffer, while wahala about who collect and who no collect don full ground. Niger State Government and NSEMA get work to do make sure say no victim go waka go house empty-handed.