LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, has begun the distribution of palliatives to victims of the 2022 flood in Akwa Ibom State.
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Umana Umana, while handing over relief materials to the National Emergency Management Agency for onward distribution to the victims on Monday in Uyo, the state capital, expressed concern that the Niger Delta region was worse hit by the flood because of its topography and location.
Umana, who was represented by a member of the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission for Akwa Ibom State, Dr Emem Wills, said the relief materials could not replace the losses associated with the flood. Still, they would help to alleviate the burden faced by the people.
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He stated that the gesture was not just a physical distribution of the materials but also the compassion and empathy of the government towards the affected people.
“We are aware that no amount of relief provided by the government can replace the losses as a result of the flood. However, it is our candid belief that the relief items will help alleviate the burden currently faced by our people. This gesture is not just a physical distribution of materials; rather, it represents the compassion and empathy of the government towards its people,” the Minister said.
He disclosed that the National Emergency Management Agency has already identified the communities highly affected by the flood through the Needs Assessment conducted after the flood. He added that the identified communities had been listed to benefit from the relief materials.
Speaking after the handover ceremony, the Director-General of NEMA, Alh. While appreciating the Federal Government’s gesture, Ahmed Habib assured that the items would be distributed only to those genuinely affected by the 2022 flood.