10, 000 Plateau flood victims receive aid from NEMA

After extensive assessment of the weekend flood that devastated communities in six local government areas of Plateau State, the National Emergency Management Agency has distributed relief assistance to more than 10, 000 persons who were displaced by the disaster in the Shendam, Wase, Mikang, Kanam, Langtang North and Langtang South Local Government Areas of the state.

NEMA’s Director of Relief and Rehabilitation, Edward Maigida led the team in the distribution of the relief materials to all the affected council areas on behalf of the Director General. He conveyed the sympathy of the Federal Government to the affected persons, saying the items were supplied in order to provide immediate relief based on the rapid assessment of the situations while further assistance may be considered in due course when detail assessment has been carried out.

Edward Maigida said that NEMA’s quick response was in fulfillment of its commitment to promoting and ensuring efficient and effective disaster management in the country. He noted that  that the early warning alerts given about possible floods in some identified states including Plateau is  real and urged communities located in the high risk areas to reposition temporarily to safer locations for avoidable losses of lives and property in the remaining period of the rainy season.

Receiving the relief items on behalf of the affected persons in the Shendam Local Government Area, the Council Chairman, Nicholas Kemi said about 65 communities were affected and expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for the kind gesture.

Speaking at the occasion, the Emir of Wase, Muhammadu Haruna while receiving the NEMA team at his palace, commended the agency for what he described as timely response in the delivery of relief assistance. He recalled that the flood had resulted in the loss of 5 lives, claimed homes in many communities and swept away several bridges that linked the local government areas together. The items distributed were identified as assorted food materials such as bags of rice, millets, grains and tea stuff, treated mosquito nets, blankets, clothing, mattresses, buckets, nylon mats, cups and spoons.

Muhammadu Haruna noted that prior to the disaster, the Nigerian Metrological Agency (NIMET) informed communities that there was likely to be high rainfall, capable of flooding some areas in states of the country like Lagos, Ogun, Delta, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Gombe, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa.