The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has added its voice for immediate assistance from Nigerians and corporate bodies to donate items for flood victims across the country.
The Director General, NOA, Dr Garba Abari made the appeal at a press briefing held Thursday on the state of flooding in Nigeria.
Abari stated that NOA has held a stakeholders meeting in Abuja to brainstorm and develop strategies on how to tackle the menace of flooding and its consequential effect on the livelihood of citizens.
Abari further reiterated that his leadership objective was clear about what Nigeria need to do in cases like this.
He said that NOA’s mandate includes encouraging people to actively and freely participate in discussions and decisions on matters affecting the general welfare of all Nigerians and the country.
He said: “We, therefore call on all citizens, individuals and corporate organizations to mobilize and send aid to flood-ravaged individuals and communities, both in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps and elsewhere.
Faith-based organisations and non-governmental organizations are particularly encouraged to organize and mobilize their members to provide relief to affected communities.”
He added that stakeholders from relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies participated in that conversation and that one of the takeaways from that engagement was that NOA would play an active role towards disseminating credible and relevant information to the grass root level.
Among other engagements, he noted that NOA, in collaboration with Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) embarked on a one-day workshop for the 36 State Directors and the FCT, as well as the 12 Headquarters’ Directors.
He stated that NOA acknowledged the generous effort of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development and the North East Development Commission in distributing relief materials to some of the affected communities.
It also acknowledged the effort of some state governments in this regard, including those of Bayelsa, Rivers, Kogi, Lagos, Anambra and Taraba.
NOA DG recalled that reports by NEMA indicated that over 600 lives have been lost; over 24000 persons injured; about 1,302,589 persons have been displaced; over 2.5 million persons have been affected, one way or another; about 332,327 hectares of farmlands have been totally destroyed; 82,052 houses partially damaged; 121,318 houses totally destroyed beyond repair and property worth several hundred million damaged in what is, arguably, the worst flooding and humanitarian crisis we have experienced in our recent history.
Abari disclosed that the NOA is currently partnering with the Super Bike Clubs Association of Nigeria on a campaign to ensure food security, national cohesion and prevention of malaria in the aftermath of the floods.
According to him, the campaign is a five-day event to promote eradication of malaria and water-borne diseases as well as food security in six focus states of Nasarawa Plateau, Gombe, Kano, Katsina and Kaduna. In doing this, we acknowledge the generous effort of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development and the North East Development Commission in distributing relief materials to some of the affected communities.
He urged the media to intensify effort in keeping the plights of the affected communities in the forefront of national discourse with a view to bringing deserving attention to their ordeal and attracting the help they so urgently need from the well-meaning public.
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