President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Wednesday in Abuja said the interest and welfare of the citizens in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger remain priority for leaders of ECOWAS, assuring that wisdom and diplomacy will make the difference in reintegrating the countries into the commission.

Receiving the President of Germany, Frank–Walter Steinmeier, in a State Visit at the Presidential Villa, President Tinubu, who is the Chairman of ECOWAS, noted that the leadership of the three countries had been reluctant in bringing out transition programmes with clear dates.

“Our relationship of mutual respect will continue as we reappraise the situation in the three countries. What I can assure is that we will not give tolerance to unconstitutional government.

“We will continue to lead by example. We have innocent citizens who are victims of the military. We will continue to explore diplomatic channels to navigate without punishing the innocent people.

“We will continue to allow free movement and trade. Though the transition programme is not sure or certain, we will not punish the innocent citizens; they are not in possession of power,’’ he said.

President Tinubu told the German leader that the regional body would leave the door open for the return of democracy in the countries.

“This is what ECOWAS will stand for. Whatever is happening in the countries, we are mindful of the wellbeing of the citizens. I don’t want to personalize issues as ECOWAS Chairman. We will leave the door for collaboration,’’ the President added.

In his response, the German President said the re-integration of the three countries will have significant impact on the economy and security of the West Coast.

“We will talk bilateral and regional issues. We just had a meeting with the President of ECOWAS Commission. We know how important it is to have regional cooperation. We are part of the European Union.

The Aliko Dangote-led Presidential Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation (PCFRR) has delivered emergency relief materials valued at N1Billion to the Government of Borno State for onward distribution to persons affected by the 2024 flood in the State.

During the handover ceremony held yesterday in Maiduguri, the Secretary of the Presidential Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation, Mrs. Hajara Modu, said the committee was committed to supporting flood-affected communities.

Representing the co-chairmen, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, the Secretary said that the distribution of food and non-food items fulfills the pledge made by the committee at the height of the 2024 flood disaster.

In early September 2024, Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State, experienced catastrophic flooding that submerged approximately 70% of the city. This made Borno State the most severely affected region in Nigeria during this year’s flood season. The flooding displaced thousands of residents, destroyed homes, and disrupted essential services, exacerbating the humanitarian challenges already faced in the region.

She said the President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, had announced the donation of N2billion.

According to her, of the N2 billion donation announced by Dangote, N1 billion is on behalf of the committee for the procurement and supply of relief materials to the flood victims in Borno, and the other N1 billion was donated by the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF).

She described Mr. Dangote as very passionate about philanthropy, adding that the committee that was set up in 2012 by the former President Goodluck Jonathan had only a year to work, but through the support of Mr. Dangote it continued to address the flood disasters in the country.

The Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Dangote-led Presidential Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation for its substantial interventions in the state.

The Governor, who was represented by his Deputy Mr. Umar Usman Kadafur said the state government had set up a committee to ensure that relief items reach victims of flooding.

He noted that Alhaji Aliko Dangote, through the committee and his foundation, has consistently provided support in various forms, addressing critical needs in Borno.

Governor Zulum commended Mr. Dangote for his unwavering commitment to humanitarian causes and for contributing significantly to the state’s recovery efforts, particularly during challenging times. He acknowledged that Dangote’s interventions have touched many lives and have been instrumental in mitigating the impact of disasters such as the recent floods.

Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Mrs. Zubaida Umar, commended Mr. Dangote for providing the requisite leadership in humanitarian intervention in the country.

Mrs. Umar, who was represented by the Director of Relief and Rehabilitation, Abdullahi Adamu Usur, said: “Today’s handover of relief materials donated by the PCFRR is a testament to the unwavering commitment of the Federal Government under the able leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”

He listed some of the items to include: Beans, Seasoning, Salt, Sugar, Tomato Paste, Vegetable oil, Foam Mattress, Guinea Brocade, Wax Print, Blankets, Mosquito Nets, Nylon Mat, Bathing Soap, Detergent, Children Diapers and Sanitary Pads.

Borno State’s Commissioner for Women and Social Development Zuwaira Gambo thanked the Dangote-led committee for what she described as a huge humanitarian intervention.

NEMA’s Coordinator for Northeast Zonal Office Mr. Sirajo Garba said the agency, in collaboration with other stakeholders, has perfected a transparent modality for the distribution of the relief items from the Dangote-led Committee.

No fewer than 100 Sokoto indigene students are expected to benefit from Senator Ibrahim Lamido’s (Sokoto East) foreign scholarship scheme this year. Sen. Lamido stated this in his farewell message to the first batch of 57 students shortly before their departure to India through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

Lamido said admission has already been secured for the beneficiaries to study sciences and engineering courses at two reputable Indian institutions: Geeta and MJR Universities. The beneficiaries were sponsored to study pharmacy, physiotherapy, medical laboratory technology, engineering, computer science, software engineering, cyber security, and machine learning, among other related courses.

“We have designed a comprehensive scholarship program to sponsor 100 Sokoto indigene students. It is a fully funded scholarship package for the beneficiaries selected from across Sokoto East Senatorial District. The package encompasses school/tuition fees, accommodation, feeding, exam fees, monthly stipend, visa charges, flight tickets, and health insurance, among other charges. The first batch of 57 students has departed to India, and we are working for the departure of the second batch of students. Each student is sponsored at no less than N45,000,000 for the period of four years of his/her studies,” Sen. Lamido said.

He added that the scholarship was meant to pay back his constituents by sponsoring their children to acquire education, noting that “this is the best way I can pay my constituents. By the time the beneficiaries graduate and return to Nigeria, they will be very useful to our society.” He urged the beneficiaries to focus on their studies and be good ambassadors of Sokoto State and Nigeria as a country.

The beneficiaries posed for a photograph

Some of the beneficiaries, who spoke to Daily Telescope, commended the Senator for the gesture, which they described as timely. One of them, Muhammad Salisu Gatawa, said: “Even in my dream, I have never thought of going abroad for my studies, but God in His infinite mercy has made someone sponsor me to India for studies out of generosity. It all started like a dream, but as God designed it, here we are at Abuja Airport for our trip to India for studies. Alhamdulillah. All I would have to say is that we will reciprocate this precious gesture by concentrating on our studies.”

Another beneficiary, Abubakar Isa, said: “When my credentials were collected for onward transmission to the committee saddled with the responsibility of screening eligible students, I never took it seriously because it is not the first time politicians are collecting our papers under the guise of scholarship. But some days after, I was called for the screening and later informed that I was qualified for the scholarship. Even then, I wasn’t convinced it was real until I was asked to get prepared for the trip.”