The banks in Nigeria have donated over N500m in cash and relief materials to victims of recent floods in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State, in a move aimed at cushioning the humanitarian impact of one of the worst flood disasters in the region in recent years.

The donation was disclosed on Saturday at the Niger State Government Liaison Office in Abuja. The Body of Bank Chief Executive Officers, led by the Group Managing Director of United Bank for Africa Plc, Mr Oliver Alawuba, presented the relief materials to the Niger State Government.

Alawuba, who is also Chairman of the Body of Bank CEOs, said the support was a product of both empathy and responsibility. He described the incident in Mokwa as a tragic event that prompted the banking sector to take action, noting that while the intervention had taken time, it was grounded in a long-term commitment to humanitarian service.

Alawuba said, “It is with a deep sense of responsibility and compassion that I stand before you today on behalf of the Body of Banks’ CEOs in Nigeria.

Our presence here underscores our collective commitment to alleviating the suffering of those affected by the devastating floods in Mokwa, Niger State”

“While we are here today to make this presentation, we must humbly acknowledge and apologise for the delay in our response and assure you that this delay in no way reflects a lack of concern or urgency on our part. We are here now with a firm commitment to supporting the affected communities.

“Today, we gather as representatives of the Body of Banks’ CEOs in Nigeria to fulfil a critical aspect of our corporate social responsibility by presenting relief materials valued at millions of Naira, including bags of rice, beverages, vegetable oil and mattresses. These items are aimed at providing immediate relief to the families displaced and affected by the recent floods. It is our fervent hope that these contributions will help ease their burdens and restore a measure of comfort and dignity.”

He added that the donation reflected the banks’ collective belief that the stability of financial systems was deeply intertwined with the well-being of communities across the country.

The presentation was attended by top executives, including Zenith Bank’s GMD, Dame Adaora Umeoji; Keystone Bank’s MD, Mr Hassan Imam; TAJ Bank’s MD, Mr Hamid Joda; and the CIBN Registrar, Mr Akin Morakinyo.

Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger State, who received the donations, thanked the delegation for what he described as a timely and compassionate intervention. He revealed that Zenith Bank had earlier donated N300m, UBA contributed N200m, and other banks supported with individual donations and relief items.

Bago said the flood in Mokwa was a tragic consequence of silted waterways and poorly managed hydropower infrastructure. He explained that Niger State, which is home to four major hydropower dams and over 90 water bodies, had been experiencing severe flooding due to climate-induced rainfall patterns and outdated infrastructure design.

“The floods have displaced families, destroyed livelihoods and cut off communities. This kind of corporate response from the banking sector is not only timely but exemplary,” he said.

The governor noted that addressing such disasters would require collaborative planning between the public and private sectors, particularly on climate change mitigation and water infrastructure development. He called on the banks to extend their support to strategic initiatives such as irrigation projects and food export schemes that would boost productivity and reduce exposure to flood risk.