BY LEKE ADEGBITE
The Federal Government has commenced the distribution of relief materials worth millions of naira to support victims of last year’s flood disaster in Ondo state.
At the event in Akure, the Minister of State for Transportation, Prince Ademola Adegoroye said the gesture was part of Presidential Palliatives to Year 2022 flood victims in Ondo State, championed by the Ministry of Niger Delta in collaboration with National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
The minister represented by a Director of Internal Audit in the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Tajudeen Fasasi disclosed that the gesture was borne out of President Muhammadu Buhari’s concern and love for the people of the Niger Delta region to alleviate the challenges that came with the 2022 flood.
represented by the Director, Internal Audit, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Tajudeen Fasasi said President Muhammadu Buhari, in his concern and love for the people of the Niger Delta region approved that relief materials should be given to the flood victims in the States of the Niger Delta to alleviate the challenges that came with the 2022 flood, in addition to earlier assistance to the affected States.
His words: “The relief materials approved for distribution are in four categories. These categories are: Social Relief Care Packs: This includes Mattresses, Pillows, Blankets, Cooking Pots etc. Nutritional Packs: This includes Cartons of Noodles, Bags of Rice, Bags of Beans etc”.
He said the palliatives also included livelihood and building materials such as Grinding Machine, Sewing Machine, Hair Clippers, Cement, Roofing Sheet, Ceiling Board among others.
“These materials will be meticulously distributed in all the identified Local Government Areas of the Niger Delta States, so as to forestall diversion or any irregularities.
“The Communities or LGAs highly impacted by the effect of the flood were identified by NEMA through the Needs Assessment they conducted after the flood. And it is these identified Communities / LGAs that have been earmarked to be given these relief items in order to rehabilitate the people,” Adegoroye said.
In a remark, the Director-General , NEMA, Mr Ahmed Habib, represented by one of the officials, Mr Kadiri Olanrewaju explained that the distribution exercise was the first phase while the implementation of the second phase will commence soon.
A Member representing Ilaje/Ese-odo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr Kolade Akinjo expressed appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari and federal agencies involved in the distribution of the materials.
Radio Nigeria reports that the palliatives included building materials , Grinding Machine, Sewing Machine, Hair Clippers, bags of Cement, Roofing Sheet, Ceiling Boards.