The Federal Government through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has distributed relief materials worth millions of naira to households affected by the 2024 flooding in some parts of Enugu State.
The relief items, which were distributed by NEMA South-East Office in collaboration with the Nigerian Red Cross Society, Enugu State Chapter, were distributed at Enugu West Senatorial District and Nsukka/Igboeze Federal Constituency respectively.
Flagging off the distribution of the relief items at Nsukka town at weekend, the Acting South-East Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Mrs Ngozi Echeazu, said that the relief items distribution were part of the Federal Government’s effort to assist persons affected by the flood disaster.
Echeazu, represented by Mr Ezeani Nnanyelugo, said that a similar exercise was carried out at Oduma in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu West Senatorial District to hundreds of households on December 4, which was very well attended. According to her, the distribution being done here today in this Nsukka town is for those affected by the 2024 flooding in Nsukka/Igboeze Federal Constituency.
The acting zonal coordinator recalled the unprecedented flood incidents which occurred between September and October this year in the affected areas/parts of the state.
“These natural disasters resulted to loss of livelihoods, destruction of buildings, stores, household items, farmlands, economic trees and huge displacement of people in these areas,” she said. The acting zonal coordinator empathised with the affected population over their huge losses from the flood incidents.
Echeazu said that the relief items, which include food items and non-food items, were “approved as Federal Government support to cushion the effect of the sufferings of the affected population.”
The acting zonal coordinator, who did not give the cost or market value of the relief items, advised the recipients to make judicious use of them.
“Our people should be cautious of not building structures on flood plains and stop indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drainages as well as ensuring that existing waterways are not silted,” she added. Several community leaders spoke during the event to express gratitude to the Federal Government and NEMA for the timely relief Intervention.
Responding, Chief Chidi Obetta, representing Nsukka/Igboeze South Federal Constituency, commended the numerous efforts of His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu, and the Director-General of NEMA, Mrs Zubaida Umar, for focusing on welfare and wellbeing of Nigerians.
Obetta, who was physically present during the distribution, said, “I am commending President Tinubu and D-G of NEMA for giving timely and quality relief interventions to people affected by flooding in my constituency and parts of the state.
“These provisions of relief materials, which included food and non-food material in large quantum to the affected population, will reinvigorate and drive the socio-economic resilience of my people and flood-affected populations in the state and country at large.” The major highlight of the event was the direct and meticulous distribution of the relief materials to the verified recipients.
