The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) has disbursed over ₦38 million in relief funds to victims of multiple fire outbreaks that occurred in Minna in early 2024.
The Director General of NSEMA, Abdullahi Baba-Arah, announced the disbursement during a symbolic cheque presentation ceremony held at the agency’s headquarters.
According to him, 28 victims are set to benefit from the government’s intervention, with some receiving cheques in person and others set to be paid electronically.
Baba-Arah extended Governor Umaru Bago’s heartfelt condolences to the victims and urged residents to take proactive fire safety measures, including unplugging electrical appliances when leaving their homes or places of business.
The fire disasters occurred in three key locations across Minna:
Tunga Locust: A major commercial fire on February 9, 2024, destroyed multiple shops, leaving traders devastated.
Maitumbi: A residential building went up in flames, resulting in heavy property losses.
Chanchaga: A smaller-scale incident affected a single household.
Baba-Arah noted that the Bago-led administration approved 25% compensation based on verified losses — a significant increase from the 10–15% benchmark issued under previous governments.
“This is a marked shift in how the government views and responds to the plight of disaster victims,” he stated.
Beneficiaries lauded the state government’s swift and compassionate response. Mahmoud Mohammed, a landlord affected by the Tunga Locust fire, described the relief as “a lifeline at a time of despair.”
“We never expected this kind of prompt response. It’s reassuring to know that our leaders care,” he said.
Another recipient, Juliet Nwabuze, expressed emotional relief, recalling the hopelessness that followed similar disasters in past administrations.
“I honestly thought nothing would come out of this. During the last government, my friend lost everything to fire and got no support. Today, I’m thankful — this means a lot,” she shared.
NSEMA reaffirmed its commitment to not only supporting victims of disasters but also mitigating future occurrences through public awareness campaigns and enhanced emergency response strategies.
