In a gesture of compassion and reform, the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) has distributed over ₦38 million in financial relief to 28 victims of separate fire outbreaks in Minna, the state capital.
The Director General of NSEMA, Abdullahi Baba-Arah, made the announcement during a symbolic cheque presentation ceremony at the agency’s headquarters in Minna, noting that while some recipients received physical cheques, others will get their payments through electronic transfer.
Baba-Arah, speaking on behalf of Governor Umaru Bago, extended the governor’s heartfelt sympathies to the victims and urged residents to take fire safety precautions seriously—particularly the need to switch off electrical appliances when leaving homes or business premises.
The DG outlined the incidents, which occurred in three different areas of Minna:
Tunga Locust, where a fire razed multiple shops on February 9, 2024
Maitumbi, where a residential home was gutted, resulting in significant property loss
Chanchaga, where one individual was affected
In a significant policy shift, Governor Bago approved the disbursement of 25% of total estimated losses to affected landlords and tenants, an increase from the previous administrations’ 10-15% compensation model.
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The gesture was met with deep appreciation by beneficiaries.
Mahmoud Mohammed, a landlord at Tunga Locust, lauded the governor’s empathy and swift response. “This support means a lot to us,” he said.
Another beneficiary, Juliet Nwabuze, expressed joy and relief, recalling how previous administrations failed to act.
“I had already lost hope, especially when I remembered how my friend lost everything to fire during the last administration and got nothing in return,” she said.
NSEMA reiterated its commitment to both assisting disaster victims and promoting preventive awareness campaigns to reduce future occurrences.
The agency encouraged residents to remain vigilant and assured them of the government’s continuous support in times of need.