In a significant show of corporate social responsibility (CSR), Nigerian banks have collectively donated over ₦500 million in cash and relief materials to assist communities devastated by recent floods in Niger State’s Mokwa Local Government Area.
The generous intervention, spearheaded by the Body of Bank Chief Executive Officers, was formally presented on Saturday at the Niger State Government Liaison Office in Abuja.
Mr. Oliver Alawuba, Group Managing Director of United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA) and Chairman of the Body of Bank CEOs, led the delegation. He underscored the banking sector’s deep sense of empathy and national responsibility, stating, “It is with a deep sense of responsibility and compassion that I stand before you today… to alleviate the suffering of those affected by the devastating floods in Mokwa.”
While acknowledging the time it took for the aid to arrive, Alawuba reiterated the banks’ enduring commitment to supporting affected communities. The relief package included essential items such as bags of rice, beverages, vegetable oil and mattresses, all aimed at providing immediate comfort and restoring dignity to displaced families.
Breakdown of Key Contributions:
Zenith Bank: ₦300 million
UBA: ₦200 million
Other banks: Contributed millions in combined cash and materials.
Prominent banking executives present at the handover included Dame Adaora Umeoji (Zenith Bank), Hassan Imam (Keystone Bank), Hamid Joda (TAJ Bank), and Akin Morakinyo (CIBN Registrar).
Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State expressed profound gratitude for the timely and compassionate support. He attributed the ongoing flooding crisis to a confluence of factors: silted waterways, inadequate hydropower infrastructure management, climate-induced heavy rainfall, and outdated dam systems within a state that is home to four major hydropower dams and over 90 water bodies.
“The floods have displaced families, destroyed livelihoods and cut off communities,” Governor Bago lamented, commending the banks’ response as “not only timely but exemplary.”
The Governor further urged the banks to broaden their partnership beyond immediate relief to encompass long-term developmental projects. He specifically called for collaboration on initiatives such as irrigation and agricultural expansion, promotion of food exports, and critical flood risk reduction and infrastructure upgrades.
This significant donation comes amidst increasing appeals for joint public-private sector action to bolster climate resilience and disaster response as Nigeria continues to grapple with escalating weather-related crises.
