Flooding: Niger Delta ministry delivers palliatives to flood victims

•As NDDC hands over items to NEMA in Rivers

Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, yesterday, commenced distribution of palliatives approved by President Muhammadu Buhari to Nigerians affected by the 2022 flooding in Akwa Ibom State, as well as other states in the Niger Delta.

Speaking during the flag-off, Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Umana Okon Umana, said the density of the flood was beyond imagination despite prediction by relevant federal and state agencies.

Umana said the 2022 flooding was the worst, lamenting that homes, farmlands and businesses were lost to the disaster.

Represented by Akwa Ibom board member of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Emem Wills, the minister regretted that the region is always worse hit by flood in the country, because of its topography and location.

He noted that it was for this reason that the President was concerned about people of the region, and has approved relief materials, which are to be distributed to victims in the region to alleviate challenges that came with the incident.

Umana said: “This is in addition to earlier assistance to the affected states. We are, therefore, most grateful to Buhari, who deemed it fit to alleviate the plight of our people.

“We are aware that no amount of relief can replace losses as a result of the flood. However, it is our belief that the relief items will help alleviate the burden currently faced by our people. Let me also state that this gesture is not just physical distribution of materials, but also represents compassion and empathy of government towards the people.”

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs has handed over the palliatives to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for distribution to victims in Rivers State.

The handover ceremony, which is the first phase of the palliatives distribution exercise in the state, had varieties of items ranging from bags of foodstuff, tons of building materials, and empowerment materials for sustainable livelihood.