1 month ago
22 ARTICLE AD
The National Emergency Management Agency on Thursday handed over bags of rice and other humanitarian relief aid donated by the Bank of Industry and the Government of the United Arab Emirates to assist persons affected by flooding and other disasters in the country.
Speaking at the hand-over ceremony in Abuja, the Director-General of NEMA, Zubaida Umar explained that 18,653 bags of rice were donated by the BoI and 50 tons (1,696 cartons) of humanitarian relief aid were donated by the government of UAE to support the efforts of the Federal and State Governments of Nigeria in mitigating the impact of the ongoing flood and other disasters in the country.
Umar said, “The donations of relief materials by both BoI and the Government of UAE symbolise the manifestation of deep sympathy for people severely impacted by disasters on the one hand, and a long-standing bilateral relationship between Nigeria and the UAE, on the other.
“The gestures further entrench the essence of multi-stakeholder and multi-national approach to disaster management in global perspective.”
According to her, the bags of rice donated by BoI were shared with six states to assist internally displaced persons in IDP Camps in those states.
She said the selection of the beneficiary states was based on the number of IDPs in the state, and the urgency and severity of needs of the affected persons.
“The States are Imo State (3,500 bags); Benue State (3,000 bags); Plateau State – 1,669 bags); Jigawa State (3,000 bags); Katsina State (3,850 bags); and Zamfara State (3,634 bags),” she highlighted.
She mentioned that of these, 10,484 bags will be picked up from NEMA’s Kano warehouse, while 8,169 bags will be picked up from its Abuja warehouse.
She stated, “Similarly, you will also recall the donation of 50 tons of humanitarian relief aid by the Government of the UAE to assist persons affected, and impacted by the recent flooding in Nigeria. The donation is made up of 1,696 cartons; and each carton contains 20 assorted food items, making a complete food basket.
“Like in the case of the BoI rice, the UAE donation was shared with 10 states considered highly impacted by the 2024 flood, the urgency and severity of needs of the affected persons.
“The beneficiary States are Borno State (256 cartons); Bauchi State (160 cartons); Sokoto State (160 cartons); Adamawa State (160 cartons); Kano State (160 cartons); Bayelsa State (160 cartons); Ondo State (160 cartons); Abia State (160 cartons); Rivers State (160 cartons); and Enugu State (160 cartons).”
The DG emphasised that this year alone, over 180 Local Government Areas across the country have been impacted by flooding, affecting over one million persons, with over 600,000 persons displaced and over 280 deaths.
“As governments at various levels try to mitigate the impact of disasters in all ramifications, the donations by both BoI and the Government UAE have come at the right time and will go a long way in complementing the efforts of the Federal Government of Nigeria in providing succour to persons affected by flood and other disasters across the country.
“On this note, I wish to most sincerely thank the donors and also urge the beneficiary states to ensure that the donated items are judiciously and transparently distributed to persons affected by flood and other disasters to mitigate their sufferings,” she added.
The Senior Special Assistant on Liaison Services, Adam Abatcha to Borno state Governor, Babagana Zulum commended the gestures.
“I would like to take this opportunity to commend the remarkable gestures demonstrated towards the people of Borno State,” he said.
