Displaced flood victims taking refuge at camps in Otu-Jeremi and Okwagbe towns, Delta State, yesterday, received relief items donated by the NPDC/ND Western joint partners.

According to the Manager, Government, Community Relations and Security of NEPL/ND Western OML 34 AM, Mr Sheidu Aiguedo, the items donated included cows, rice, beans, garri and others, worth about N20 million.

Aiguedo who described the flood as “the worst experience in many years in this country” said many of the flood victims who are stakeholders in the firm’s areas of operation were severely impacted by the flood, as many of them lost their farms and crops.

“We recognize that it would be difficult for them to at least be able to farm as their farmlands have been overtaken by flood, we all know that their major plant is cassava, and when you have such plants emersed in flood it becomes a serious problem.

“It’s going to be difficult for them, and we thought it’s another time to come and support them, and that’s the reason we have brought food items to come and support them.

“We brought cows, rice, beans, an assortment of food items to support them and identify with them because we see them as our major stakeholders and right, and there is no better time than now to demonstrate that. It’s a continuous demonstration of our corporate social responsibilities and also in appreciation of the support we are getting from them.

“Our plan is to reach Otu-Jeremi and Okwagbe. There is an internally displaced people camp at Okwagbe set up by the Delta State Oil Mineral Development Commission (DESOPADEC). It’s our social corporate responsibility to assist the government.

“We feel that as a responsible company whenever there are challenges of this nature we should come in and support them”, he said.

Aiguedo explained that the firm identified with the host communities during the massive flood in 2018 which wreaked havoc in several communities and that in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic they supported the state government with medical equipment and came to the aid of the host communities and gave them massive food items as a way of supporting and helping them during the lockdown.

Receiving the items on behalf of the Otu-Jeremi camp, the community chairman, Michael Oghenegueke said some of the items would be cooked and shared to the displaced victims and that others would be shared out in raw forms with the flood-displaced people.