Akpan Umoh, Uyo
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has commenced the distribution of another set of relief materials to persons affected by the 2022 flood disaster in Akwa Ibom to ameliorate their sufferings
Mr Godwin Tepiko, South-South Coordinator of NEMA, who represented the Director General of the Agency, Mr Mustapha Ahmed, on Thursday in Uyo during the flagged-off said the relief items were donated by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to the victims.
Tepiko, said the items donated include; food items, non-food items, building materials and livelihood items, such as grinding machines, mattresses and farm implements.
He noted that no single Government would be able to meet the needs of the persons affected by the disaster, hence the donation of relief items by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to the victims of the 2022 flood disaster.
“I am here representing my Director General, Mr Mustapha Ahmed, who could not be here personally because of other national engagements.
“What we are witnessing today is the flag-off of distribution of relief materials donated by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to 2022 flood-affected persons in Akwa Ibom State.
“These materials include foodstuffs, non-food items, building materials and livelihoods items for persons that were affected during the 2022 flood,” he said.
The zonal coordinator explained that already enumeration of persons affected by the flood had been carried out in all 31 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.
He appealed to the respective Chairmen of Councils to ensure that the materials get to the persons that were affected by the flood to give them succour.
“Our counsel is that those that will eventually benefit from these items should make maximum use of these items. The idea is that it will help to enhance their early recovery from that incident,” he said.
In her remarks, the Akwa Ibom Deputy Governor, Sen. Akon Eyakenyi, said that the state government was highly elated that the partnership with Federal Government has attracted succour to persons affected by the 2022 flood disaster.
Eyakenyi said that the 2022 flood disaster had wreaked havoc of monumental proportions in several communities in Akwa Ibom, especially those in the coastal local government areas.
“Given the enormity of the disaster, and in spite of the remedial measures taken by the state government through the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the need to involve the Federal Government had thus become both imminent and imperative.
“The Government and people of Akwa Ibom State, therefore commend the efforts of the Federal Government in identifying with our government and vulnerable section of our communities in our time of distress and dire need,” Eyakenyi said.
The deputy governor urged the local government council Chairmen to ensure that the items were distributed directly to the victims to reduce their suffering and restore hope to their lives.
Responding on behalf of benefiting LGAs, the Chairman of Ikot Ekpene local government area, Mr Unyime Etim, thanked the Federal and State Governments, the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and NEMA for responding to the needs of the flood victims.
Etim promised governments and the donor agency that the materials would get to all the affected persons, with the assurance of making judicious use of the items.