By Timothy Ekpo
UYO
The Akwa Ibom government has urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to make available more relief materials for victims of flood disaster in the state.
The state deputy governor, Mr. Moses Ekpo, stated this during the distribution of relief materials to victims of the 2022 flood disaster in Uyo, Akwa Ibom capital.
Represented by the permanent secretary, Deputy Governor’s Office, Mr Nkopuruk Ekaiko, the deputy governor appreciated the agency for its quick response to the plights of the victims of flood disaster in Akwa Ibom, but equally told NEMA that the state expected more consignment of items from the agency to go round the large number of victims who were captured during inspection.
He said the affected persons were very much in need of the items to ameliorate the sufferings occasioned by the 2022 flood disaster which had destroyed property worth millions of naira at various communities in the state.
The deputy governor assured the agency that government would not fail in its responsibility in ensuring that the items get to the affected persons.
He explained that about 18 local government areas responded by submitting names of victims to the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), that later confirmed the report and finally furnished NEMA with the information needed for the release of the items.
Ekpo said that at the event, the leadership of the respective local government had been invited to take delivery of the materials for distribution to the affected persons.
He charged the chairmen of the local governments concerned to ensure that the items were distributed to only those that were affected by the flood as government would send representatives to monitor how the distribution was done and report back to NEMA.
The deputy governor noted that Akwa Ibom government would continue to collaborate with NEMA to ensure that the people were served better and thanked the Federal Government for the gesture.
The director general of NEMA, Alhaji Mustapha Ahmed, represented by the director, Disaster and Risk Reduction, Dr Daniel Obot, said the 2022 annual flood outlook, showed that 233 local government areas in 12 states and FCT, were probable flood risk areas, while 212 local government areas in 35 states in the country were moderately probable flood risk areas.
Ahmed explained that what was witnessed in Akwa Ibom and other states, should spur government at all levels to take concrete action that would lead to sustainable reduction of flood disaster risk and losses of lives, livelihood, health, economic, physical, socio-cultural and environmental assets in line with global aspirations.
He said NEMA’s visit to the state was to assist victims who were affected by the 2022 flood to alleviate their suffering, and listed the items brought by the agency to include 1,000 bags of 10kg rice, 1,000 bags of 10kg beans, 1,000 bags of 10kg maize, 75 bags of 20kg salt, 75 kegs of vegetable oil, 150 cartons of seasoning cubes and 75 cartons of canned tomatoes.
Other items were 8,000 pieces of nylon mats, 1,000 pieces of mosquito treated nets, 600 cartons of bath soap, 2,500 pieces of guinea brocade, 1,000 pieces of children’s wears, 1,000 pieces of women’s wear and 1,000 pieces of men’s wear.
NEMA director general told the deputy governor that the federal government had also approved 2,100 bags of 50kg of maize, 1,774 bags of 50kg of sorghum and 3,948 bags 25 kg of garri for distribution to victims of flood in Akwa Ibom.
Responding on behalf of the chairmen of councils, the chairman of Abak Local Government, Pastor Ekerete Inyang, thanked SEMA for its prompt action which brought NEMA to Akwa Ibom for the distribution of the items to the affected persons.
Inyang said the councils considered the gesture of NEMA as a sacrifice to give succour to the vulnerable people in the state, adding that they have the responsibility of contributing towards the exercise and as such would make sure that only those who were affected benefit from the items.
Hi The council boss applauded NEMA for coming to assist victims of flood disaster in the state.
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