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President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the release of 12, 000 metric tonnes of grains as relief materials for victims of flood disaster across the country.

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, made this known at the weekly ministerial briefing organised by the Presidential Communications Team in Abuja, yesterday.

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“So far, NEMA has reached out and responded to over 1, 427, 370 displaced persons in 28 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The provision of food and non-food items for immediate relief and building materials to facilitate the rehabilitation of the impacted populations is still ongoing.

“The remaining states comprising of Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Kwara, Zamfara, Katsina, Kebbi, Borno and Gombe are still ongoing. In furtherance of government’s intervention to the vulnerable population, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the release of 12, 000 metric tonnes of grains comprising of soghum, millet and garri form the National Strategic reserve to NEMA for distribution to the 36 states of the country and the FCT.”

The minister announced that the Presidential Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation under the leadership of business mogul, Aliko Dangote, had also provided assorted foodstuff worth over N1.5 billion as support to flood victims across the country.

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The minister dismisses complain by some state governments that they had not received any form of support from NEMA as false and untrue. She revealed that as part of measures to check possible diversion or hoarding of the relief materials, as witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic, all stakeholders and security agencies were carried along in the distribution process.

She declared that Bayelsa State was not among the 10 most affected by floods in the country, contrary to perception in some quarters.

According to the statistics made available, she said so far 36 states and the FCT have all been impacted by the floods and data as at October 24 reveals out of the 612 person dead, Jigawa accounts for the single highest by state with 91 deaths. Of the total 3,219,780 persons affected Anambara accounts for 729,046 persons

Also disclosed are that 526,215 persons have been displaced in Anambra out of the 1,427,370 displaced person across the country. With 376 injured, Anambra also accounts for the highest number of injured out of the 2,776 nationwide. The indicators reveals Imo State has the highest numbers of houses and farmlands partially damaged. With over 392,000 hectares of farmlands totally damaged, Cross River accounts for the highest number of farmlands by hectare, damaged with over 99,000.

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She rebuffed claim by leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Chief Edwin Clark, that as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, she was not humane over the treatment of areas hit by floods in Bayelsa and other parts of the South.

Clark had said: “We have a humanitarian minister that is not humane, who was only active to carryout school feeding of school children who were confined to their homes during the COVID-19 lockdown.

“In such an urgent situation of ravaging flood, she has decided to maintain a disquieting quietness. Bodies like the National Emergency Agency (NEMA), were not able to take proactive measures. Where is the mother of the nation, the First Lady, Mrs. Aisha Buhari? Her fellow women are in deep agony, seeing their children dying of starvation and treatable minor illnesses, because there is no medication.”

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However, in her response, Farouk said the ministry had taken relief materials to Bayelsa through the Nigerian Air Force.

She said it was not true that she is inhumane, noting that the flood disaster is a national issue and she has performed her duty to the best of her ability.

(Sun)