President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the release of 12,000 metric tons of grains as relief materials for victims of flood disaster.
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar-Frouq disclosed this to State House Correspondents at the weekly ministerial briefing organised by the Presidential Communications Team.
Intervention To 28 States
They further explained that the Nigerian government has so far given intervention to 28 States of the Federation.
She said: “The Ministry through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has deployed its emergency response assets including mobile water purification equipment, search and rescue boats and mobile intensive care unit ambulances to conduct lifesaving first aid and support to vulnerable populations.
“So far, NEMA has reached out and responded to over 1, 427, 370 displaced persons in 28 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The provision of food and non-food items for immediate relief and building materials to facilitate the rehabilitation of the impacted populations is still ongoing.
“The remaining States comprising Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Kwara, Zamfara, Katsina,Kebbi, Borno and Gombe are still ongoing. In furtherance of government’s intervention to the vulnerable population, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the release of 12, 000 metric tons of grains comprising of Sorghum, Millet and Garri form the National Strategic reserve to NEMA for distribution to the 36 States of the country and the FCT.”
The Minister announced that the Presidential Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation under the leadership of business mogul, Aliko Dangote, has also provided assorted foodstuffs worth over N1.5 billion as support to flood victims across the country.
“The Presidential Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation under the Chairmanship of Alhaji Aliko Dangote has donated assorted food stuff worth N1.5 billion to NEMA for distribution to all the States of the federation and NEMA has already provided warehouse facilities in the six geo-political zones of the federation to receive the items. A plan has also been put in place by NEMA to transport and handover the relief materials to the State governments and the FCT authority,” she stated.
On complaints by some State governments that they have not received any form of support from NEMA, Umar-farouq debunked such claims.
The Minister stated that in order to check the unfortunate situation of diverting or hoarding the relief materials, all stakeholders and security agencies are being carried along in the distribution process.
Lost Their Loved Ones
She used the occasion to commiserate with those who lost their loved ones as a result of the flood disaster, adding that temporary shelters have been erected in 22 States, adding that in the near future, people will be forced to relocate from flood prone areas, to avoid being swept away by flood.
The Humanitarian Affairs Minister also informed Journalists that since February this year, the relevant agencies had given warning alert to Nigerians indicating that 212 Local Government Areas a in 35 States of the country would be affected by flood and the Ministry in its own wisdom also intimated the 36 States of the federation and the FCT of the pending danger.
Lateefah Ibrahim
