NEDC donates relief items to Yobe flood victims

Yobe NEDC Coordinator leading the distribution team to Damagum Fune LG

The North East Development Commission has provided crucial assistance to flood-affected communities in Yobe State by distributing essential food and non-food items to alleviate the people’s suffering.

This initiative is part of the NEDC’s comprehensive strategy to address the humanitarian and economic challenges facing the North East region.

The relief package includes 200 bags of rice, 200 cartons of spaghetti and macaroni, 200 gallons of vegetable oil, and 200 nylon mats.

Representing the Commission’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mohammed Goni Alkali, was the Yobe State Coordinator, Professor Ali Ibrahim Abbas who oversaw the distribution, emphasised that the relief items were intended to ease the hardship faced by the affected communities.

Bagoni Bade, the Executive Chairman of Fune Local Government, expressed profound gratitude to NEDC for its timely assistance. He praised the commission for its dedication to improving the lives of people in the region and acknowledged the positive impact this intervention would have on the flood-affected communities.

Arewa PUNCH reports that this effort is particularly significant given the severe flooding in Yobe State, which has affected over 239,000 people and forced many to relocate to temporary shelters.

The NEDC’s support is also vital in addressing the immediate needs of these communities and fostering long-term recovery and resilience.

A resident in one of the beneficiary communities, Ibrahim Auta, told Arewa PUNCH that, “By providing the essential items, the NEDC is helping to mitigate the impact of the floods and support the affected communities in rebuilding their lives.”

However, the Commission, on its part, further noted that the “intervention underscores its commitment to addressing the humanitarian and economic challenges facing the North East region.”

In a related development, the Yobe Executive Council has also approved a N1.4bn cash transfer for the state’s flood victims.

The significant move to support flood victims was led by Governor Buni, who approved the transfer initiative.

Arewa PUNCH gathered that this decision followed a proposal from Dr. Mairo Ahmed Amshi, the Commissioner of the Yobe State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, who canvassed the idea of providing Multipurpose Cash Assistance for those affected by the 2024 floods.

Dr. Amshi announced the approval on Monday during a press briefing at the Government House in Damaturu.

She stated that the allocated funds, totalling N1,436,500,000, are intended to assist flood victims across the state.

She stressed, “We have conducted surveys and are continuing to assess all 17 local government areas to identify 1,500 flood victims across 150 locations.

“Each victim will receive a cash transfer of N50,000. We are collaborating with international partners and selected banks to ensure the funds are directly transferred to the beneficiaries.

“The ExCo has given its approval for this initiative,” she further explained.

Similarly, the Commissioner for Commerce, Tourism, and Industry, Kaigama Umar Yunusari, announced the ratification of ongoing construction projects for modern markets in Ngalda, Fika LGA, and Yunusari town. Each project is estimated to cost N2 billion. Additionally, the construction of sesame seed processing points has been awarded in four major towns: Machina, Nguru, Potiskum, and Damaturu.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Works, Umar Wakil Duddaye, has highlighted the ministry’s efforts to enhance rural infrastructure.

“The ministry is constructing roads from Fika to Maluri and Gashua to Massba to support the state government’s agricultural revitalisation programme.”