Knights of St John International, Nigeria, donate to flood victims across the country, call on FG to declare a National Disaster

Knights of St John International, Nigeria, donate to flood victims across the country, call on FG to declare a National Disaster

By Padre Mike Nsikak Umoh, CSN

In response to the devastating consequences of the flood currently ravaging many cities across Nigeria, the Knights and Ladies of the Ancient and Noble Order of the Knights of St. John International in Nigeria have donated Six million Naira, “in the first instance,” to the victims through six Dioceses, based on “the cardinal objective of our Order on Charity.”

In a letter, dated November 1, 2022, to the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Most Rev. Lucius Iwejuru Ugorji, and signed by the trio: the Supreme Subordinate President, Major General Remy Uche, the Supreme subordinate Treasurer, Brig. Gen. Solomon Obeakameh and the Supreme subordinate Secretary, Brig. Gen. Cletus Ntong, the Order expressed “deep sympathy with all the victims of the flood disaster that recently ravaged many communities within our territorial Jurisdiction.”

The letter also said, “We very much appreciate their pains which visibly manifested in the loss of life, valuable property, and displacement of abode.”

The Order therefore called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to “declare this ugly occurrence as a National Disaster and muster appropriate action to cushion the ravaging effects as well as invite international communities and humanitarian organisations for speedy interventions and aids.”

Besides seeking for aids, the distinguished body of Catholics also urged the Federal Government of Nigeria “to seek for ways and means to forestall future occurrence or a timeous arrest of the ravaging effect should the menace seem intractable.”