The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh, has donated food items to victims affected by the recent flood disaster in Mokwa, Niger State.
The donation, which included bags of rice, beans, and maize, was presented on Wednesday during a visit by a CAN delegation led by the association’s Vice President, Rev. Stephen Panya, to the Niger State Government in Minna.
The items were handed over at the office of the Deputy Governor, Yakubu Garba, and received by the Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Abdullahi Arah, alongside officials from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.
Archbishop Okoh, represented by Rev. Panya, expressed deep sorrow over the scale of destruction caused by the floods, which claimed lives and displaced many families.
“This tragic incident is a reminder of our collective responsibility to stand with one another in times of distress,” he said. “This donation is a gesture of love and solidarity with the people of Mokwa and the affected communities.”
In response, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Mairo Man, revealed that the state government had fulfilled its promise of N1 billion in relief funds, an effort that has led to the closure of 90% of the internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in the state.
Speaking to journalists, Rev. Panya urged the Federal Government and emergency agencies to improve monitoring of the River Niger and its tributaries to prevent future disasters.
“We need a stronger early warning system,” he said. “Flood-prone areas near the River Niger should be closely monitored, especially as the rainy season approaches, to allow timely evacuations and preparations.”
He also called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to avoid a reactive approach to natural disasters and instead adopt year-round preparedness plans.
“Floods happen every rainy season. We should no longer be caught unprepared,” he added.