President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday announced a donation of N300 million to Kwara State, from a Federal Government N17.6 billion financial intervention package to states affected in the recent flood disaster.

Many states across the country have been ravaged by floods in recent weeks, which led to the death of about 147 people.

Jonathan in a nationwide broadcast yesterday, said the donation was part of government's interventions to mitigate the effect of the disaster on the victims.

In the package, states will receive a total of N13.3 billion while the Federal Government agencies will receive N4.3 billion, he disclosed.

The president said the benefitting states have been categorized into four groups.

The states in category A to D will receive N500 million, N4000 million, N300 million and N250 million each respectively, the president said.

Jonathan, who commiserated with those who lost loved ones in the tragic incident, regretted that the global phenomenon of devastating flood came to Nigeria at this critical time.

He said he had constituted a National Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation to assist the Federal Government to raise funds to mitigate the pains and ensure the effective post-impact rehabilitation of victims.

The president said the committee would be co-chaired by business mogul, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, and Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, the onetime president of Nigeria Bar Association, while Dr. Mike Adenuga would serve as the chief fund mobilizer.

The presidential speech reads in part: "Over the past few weeks, unprecedented floods have ravaged many parts of our country, rendering tens of thousands of fellow Nigerians homeless and causing massive destruction of property, farmland and infrastructure across the country.

"I wish to express our deep commiseration with all those who have lost loved ones; those who have lost their property as well as all the affected communities and institutions.
"It is sad that this global phenomenon of devastating floods has come to Nigeria at this time.

"I want to reassure all Nigerians that the Federal Government is prepared to do everything possible to mitigate the impact of this natural disaster.

"I had earlier set up a Presidential technical Committee to visit all affected areas with a view to properly assessing the impact of the floods. The committee has since submitted an interim report.

"The report, which contained a number of recommendations, was presented to key stakeholders including the leadership of the National Assembly and governors of the affected states.

"The technical committee will continue to go round the country while the Vice President and I will also visit some of the affected communities. When we receive the committee's final report, the Federal Government will further initiate medium and long term measures to check further flood disaster.

"In addition previous interventions by agencies, the Federal Government has decided on a number of measures to further ameliorate the situation. These include the immediate provision of a total of N17.6 billion in direct Federal Government agencies responsible for disaster management. The states will receive a total of N13.3 billion while the Federal agencies will receive N4.3 billion.

"Based on the president assessment, the states have been categorized into four groups: A to D. All categories A states will receive N500 million each; category B states N400 million each; category C states N300 million each and category D states, N250 million.
Jonathan listed category A states as follows: Oyo, Kogi, Benue, Plateau, Adamawa, Delta, Bayelsa and Anambra.

Category - B Jigaga, Kano, Bauchi, Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa, Taraba, Cross river, Edo, Lagos and Imo.

Category C Kwara, Katsina, Gombe, Ogun, Ondo, Ebonyi, Abia and Rivers.

Category D Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Yobe, Enugu, Ekiti, Osun, Akwa-Ibom and FCT.
Jonathan reassured that his administration remains committed to the welfare and wellbeing of Nigerians at all times.