The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has handed over foods and other relief items to the Kwara State Government.
This was disbursed under the Nigerian Government’s Special intervention which approved the distribution of assorted grains and relief materials to persons affected by 2022 flood and other natural and human induced disaster.
Speaking at the event in Ilorin the State capital, the Director General of NEMA, Mustapha Ahmed said he was glad to say that with assessments conducted and reports to the Ministry of
Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the release of 12,000 metric tons of assorted grains from the National Strategic Reserve Stock for distribution to states of the federation and the FCT, Abuja.
“You will all agree with me that in the last couple of months some states of Nigeria including Kwara State have suffered widespread flood disaster. The unfortunate flood incidents have resulted in loss of lives, human displacement, loss of means of livelihood socio-economic dislocation, “ he started.
Damage and loss assessment
Represented by the Deputy Director ICT and Technical Director to NEMA DG Sani Lokoja, the DG said NEMA’s operations office in Minna has continuously worked with the Kwara State Emergency Management (KWASEMA) to conduct damage and loss assessments to guide relief intervention to persons in need of support in Kwara State.
According to him, part of the grains distributed to Kwara state which are expected to give succour to most vulnerable groups of persons include: 105 metric tons of maize (2,100 bags of 50kg); 88.7 metric tons of sorghum (1,800 bags of 50kg; 98.7 metric tons of Garri (3,600 bags of 25kg).
“Furthermore, NEMA has delivered additional relief material in form of food and non-food items to further support persons affected by the flood disaster in Kwara State. The items comprise of the following:Food Items: 1,000 bags of 10kg rice; 1,000 bags of 10kg beans; 1,000 bags of 10kg maize; 75 bags of salt (20kg); 75 kegs of vegetable oil (20ltrs); 150 cartons of seasoning cubes (maggi/knorr); 75 cartons of tin tomato (50 sachet).
“Non-Food Items: 8,000 pieces of nylon mats; 1,000 pieces of mosquito nets (treated); 600 cartons of bath soap; 2,500 pieces of guinea brocade (5 yards); 1,000 pieces of children’s wear (new); 1,000 pieces of women’s wear (new) and 1,000 pieces of men’s wear (new),” he disclosed.
He therefore appealed to the Kwara State Governor to set up and strengthen the Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMCs) in all the Local
Government Areas of the state to take disaster management to the grassroots in line with global best practices.
“This is with the understanding that every disaster happens in particular community and in a particular Local Government. The first life-saving responders are always from the community. As we always say; disasters are always local and lifesaving first responders are always local too.
Ahmed appealed to the government to set aside a predictable funding to Kwara SEMA to enable the Agency intervene timely to save lives and safeguard livelihoods whenever disasters hit.
In attendance were Kwara State Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Arc Safudeen Aliyu Muhammed; Chairman Kwara State Environmental Task Force, Alhaji Razaq Jiddah; Permanent Secretary Cabinet, Political and Special Services, Barrister Sabitiyu Kikelomo Grillo; Head NEMA Minna Operations Office Overseeing Niger and Kwara States, Hajia Zainab Saidu; Assistant Director Human Resources Management NEMA, Adebiyi Razaq and Secretary to Kwara State Emergency Management Agency , Mrs Motunrayo Adaran.
Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Mamman Saba Jubril called on the Nigerian government to find lasting solutions to the perennial flooding affecting communities around Rivers, Niger, and Benue.
He explained that compensation by giving money, foods and other items in most of the affected communities is like scratching the problem from the surface.
The governor therefore urged the federal government to come up with permanent solutions to the problems stressing that it could be very costly but they deserve it as the present situation was beyond the state government.
“Some of the solutions to this problem include dredging of rivers to contain more volume of water and avert overflowing; construction of dyke around the rivers; planting of trees along river banks; discouraging farming around riverbanks and dredging of Baro Port in Niger State,” he suggested.
AbdulRazaq recalled that the government had earlier distributed relief materials to victims of flooding in Patigi, Edu, and Moro local government areas.
Also speaking, the Chairman Kwara State Environmental Task Force, Razaq Jiddah appreciated NEMA for its continuous support to the state government and the people of the state.
Lateefah Ibrahim
