By Ikemefuna Asika, Awka
The Federal Government says six hundred and sixty thousand, eight hundred and eighty four households are targeted to benefit from the 2023 National Special Economic and Livelihood Intervention for 2022 flood victims and most vulnerable persons in Nigeria.
The Director General , National Emergency Management agency (NEMA), Mustapha Ahmed stated this in a message to the flag off of distribution of items to beneficiaries in Awka, Anambra State.
A total of eighteen thousand, Nine hundred and Four households in Anambra State are to benefit from the gesture which is aimed at cushioning the effect of flood devastation as well as the economic hardship occasioned by the removal of oil subsidy this year.
The items provided by the Federal Government include: grinding machines, sewing machines, seed rice, mattresses, water pumping machines, pots, stoves, buckets.
Others are blankets, detergent, bath soaps, mosquito nets and pesticides.
The list further includes edible items such as garri, beans, rice, maggi, sachet salts, sachet tomatoes and groundnut oil.
The NEMA DG who was represented by the Assistant Director , Planning, Research and Forecasting, Mr Afolarin Olusegun, said certain procedures were followed including an in-depth assessment of those who are vulnerable as well as those affected by the 2022 flood disaster so that the real people will benefit from the federal government gesture.
He advised the beneficiaries to make utmost use of the items and avoid selling the none food items as it is expected that they continue their livelihood with the empowerment.
The Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, standing in for the governor, thanked the federal government for the kind gesture as the effect of the flood disaster is beyond the capacity of the state government.
According to him the flood incident affected health and school system, washed away roads, bridges and farmlands, while livelihood was badly compromised.
He hinted that holding camps were already being activated and that people in the riverine areas would soon be moving in as the water level continue to rise this year.
In a remark, the Executive Secretary, Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Chief Paul Odenigbo noted that ten local government areas were affected by the flood incident adding that the intervention will be extended to vulnerable persons in the three senatorial zones of the state in the distribution that will be handled in three phases for a seamless exercise.
Some of the beneficiaries including Mrs Comfort Udeozor, Mr Ignatius Nnaemeka and Comrade Chidozie Agulu commended the federal and state governments for providing them with items that will put them back to their respective livelihoods even as they pleaded that such interventions be made more regular to cushion the increasing hardship in the country.
