The Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs in conjunction with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has commenced the distribution of presidential palliatives to the 2022 victims of floods that ravaged some local government areas in the Niger Delta region including Akwa Ibom state.
The palliatives include mattresses, pillows, blankets, cooking pots, cartons of noodles, bags of rice, bags of beans, a grinding machine
Others are sewing machines, hair clippers cement, roofing sheets, ceiling boards, and bags of nails, among others.
Handing over the materials to NEMA for onward distribution in Uyo Tuesday, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Umanah Umanah, said the items were meant to provide succor and directed that they should be given to the right victims.
The minister, represented by the state NDDC commissioner, Mr Emem Wills, thanked President Mohammadu Buhari for approving the distribution of the relief materials to mitigate the sufferings of Niger Delta flood victims.
Umanah regretted that the region remains the worse hit by a flood in the country due to its topography and location.
“We are aware that no amount of relief provided by the government can replace the losses as a result of the flood. However, it is our candid belief that the relief items will help alleviate the burden currently faced by our people.
“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,” he added.
Responding, the director general of NEMA, Mustapha Habib Ahmed, assured that the relief materials will be distributed to the right victims of the flood.
Ahmed represented by his subordinate in the agency, Mr Demain Egwu, commended the federal government for its intervention but lamented that the region has gone through devastating experiences of flood being the collection center of water flowing down from the north.
