From AIDOGHIE PAULINUS, Abuja
Following the recent flooding and mudslides disaster in the town of Regent, Sierra Leone, the Nigerian government has donated $2 million to the country. The incidence which recorded over 400 hundred deaths, also left many others wounded, with devastating loss of property and over 600 still missing. A statement by Sarah Sanda, the media aide to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, said the money was donated in cash, food, medical supplies and other relief materials. The statement added that a high-level federal government delegation led by Onyeama, comprising the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Engr. Mustapha Maihaja, and Hajiya Zainab Sharif of the Federal Ministry of Health, amongst others, were received at the State House in Freetown by President Ernest Bai Koroma. “Foreign Affairs Minister Geoffrey Onyeama who said he was sent by President Buhari, expressed profound sadness on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari and the people of Nigeria for the August 14 tragedy. “The Minister said the history of the two countries goes far back and the blood of both countries runs through the same veins. “The Minister also said Nigeria would always stand by Sierra Leone,” the statement said. The statement added that the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, Ernest Bai Koroma, while thanking President Muhammadu Buhari whom he referred to as a brother, noted that President Buhari was one of the first heads of state to call and sympathize with Sierra Leone when the incident occurred. The Sierra Leonean president also said Nigeria’s support for Sierra Leone was not new, even as he recalled the support provided during the eleven year civil war, the support during the unprecedented ebola epidemic and presently, during the mudslide and flood disaster. The Sierra Leonean President also expressed delight over President Buhari’s return to Nigeria after successful medical treatment in the United Kingdom. The items presented on behalf of President Buhari, according to the statement, were $1m cash, 315 metric tonnes of assorted food and other relief items, including over 4000 medical supplies, all amounting to $1m. Onyeama explained that owing to the large volume of relief materials, there was the possibility of sending some by sea.