Federal relief supplies for flood victims arrive in Benue

NEMA DG Mustapha Maihaja,(far right) leading his team on an assessment tour of the floods in Benue.

The Director General, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Mustapha Maihaja, has presented relief materials to the Benue State government for onward distribution to victims of last weekend’s devastating floods.

The NEMA boss, who was in Benue, to assess flood damage in the state, also conveyed President Muhammadu Buhari’s sympathy to the government and people of Benue State in North Central Nigeria.

Presenting the relief materials to the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) in Makurdi, Mustapha Maihaja said the items were immediate intervention meant to mitigate the suffering of the displaced persons.

Maihaja said adequate relief and other interventions would be provided to the state after a detailed assessment of damage caused by the disaster, which he described as “devastating”.

The NEMA DG noted that there was no formal communication between Nigeria and the Cameronian authorities as to the release of water from Lagdo Dam but pointed out that the agency was combat ready to take care of any eventuality.

Maihaja undertook a tour of flooded areas in parts of Guma and Makurdi Local Government Areas as well as IDP Camps during the visit.

Benue State Commissioner for Water Resources and Environment, Joseph Utsev commended the prompt intervention of the federal government to the immediate needs of the displaced persons.

He appealed to the Federal Government to construct more drainage and dredge River Benue as part of measures to reduce the magnitude of flooding, adding that the disaster had damaged property worth billions of naira.

Items presented to the state were three trucks filled with relief materials, comprising food stuff, medical supplies, children’s wears, mosquito nets and mattresses with more trucks of items being expected.

VON.