Federal government has donated relief materials to hundreds of persons displaced by the 2022 flood in some local government areas of Akwa Ibom State.
The succour came through the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs which flagged-off the distribution of relief materials to the beneficiaries to cushion the effects of the disaster.
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The relief materials include: mattresses, pillows, blankets, cooking pots, cartons of noodles, bags of rice, bags of beans, grinding machines, sewing machines, hair clippers, cement, roofing sheets, ceiling boards, nails, amongst others.
While handing over the materials to National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Uyo, the state capital yesterday, the minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Umana Okon Umana, said the items were meant to provide succour to the victims and directed that they should be given to the right beneficiaries.
The minister who was represented by the state commissioner in NDDC, Mr Emem Wills, applauded President Muhammadu Buhari, for approving the distribution of the relief materials to mitigate the sufferings of victims across the Niger Delta region. He regretted that the region remains the worst hit by the flood menace in the country due to its topography and location.
He said, “It is with great pleasure and honour that I welcome you to this occasion as we flag off the distribution of Presidential Palliatives to our people who were affected by the 2022 flood. Even though the flood was predicted by relevant federal and state agencies, the density of the flood was beyond our imagination.
“Homes, farmlands and businesses were lost to the flood. Regrettably, it is worthy of note that Niger Delta is always worse hit by floods in the country because of its topography and location.
“Government officers and security personnel have been assigned to monitor the distribution exercise to ensure that these items get to those for whom they are meant,” the minister said.
Responding, the director-general of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mustapha Habib Ahmed, said, “The relief materials will be distributed to the right victims of the flood.”
Ahmed who was represented by Mr Demain Egwu commended the federal government for its intervention but also lamented that the region has gone through devastating experiences of flood being the collection centre of water flowing down from the north.
On his part, the deputy governor, Mr Moses Ekpo, who was represented by the permanent secretary in his office, Nkopuruk Ekaiko, expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Niger Delta and the federal government, for remembering the flood victims.