The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has initiated the distribution of relief materials to 8,757 households who were affected by the 2022 flood disaster in Kaduna State. The Director-General of NEMA, Mr. Mustapha Ahmed, announced this during the distribution event in Kaduna, which was part of the Special National Economic and Livelihood Emergency Intervention (SNELEI).
Mr. Ahmed, represented by the state team supervisor of SNELEI, Ms. Ngozi Echeazu, stated that the distribution aimed to provide assistance to the households affected by the flood disaster. The relief items include both food and non-food items such as rice, beans, sorghum, blankets, mats, mosquito nets, and detergents. Additionally, non-food items like sewing machines, grinding machines, water pumps for dry-season farmers, sprayers, fertilizers, herbicides, and seedlings were provided to support agricultural activities and stimulate crop production.
The Director-General explained that the agricultural inputs were intended to help farmers return to their fields, boost crop production, and ensure national food security in the face of economic challenges. The livelihood support, including tools and equipment, was aimed at helping artisans improve their businesses and contribute to economic growth.
Mr. Ahmed urged the beneficiaries not to sell the items but to use them as intended, preserving the goodwill of the Federal Government.
Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, the Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, commended the Federal Government for the relief efforts and stated that these items would aid beneficiaries in rebuilding their lives. She also emphasized the importance of not selling the relief items, as they were meant to alleviate poverty and empower the recipients economically.
The deputy governor urged the distributors to ensure that the relief materials were provided only to the targeted individuals and the vulnerable in the affected areas.
Mr. Usman Mazabu, the Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for approving the relief assistance. He assured that the distribution of the relief materials would be carried out transparently, with the collaboration of NEMA, SEMA, community representatives, and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that they reach the intended recipients.