The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Tuesday donated two trucks of assorted relief items to the victims of flood in Lokoja metropolis.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Mr Idris Mohammed, Head of NEMA Operations, Abuja Office, who led the delegation, told newsmen in Lokoja, that they were in the state due to the recent flood that displaced many people.
He added that some of the displaced victims were now living in camps while others have taken refuge with their friends and relatives.
He said the relief materials included 500 matresses, 500 mosquito nets, 500 blankets and 133 (50kg) bags of rice.
“We are working with the ministry, agencies and all other stakeholders in Kogi, so that we can package further materials for the entire communities affected by flood disaster across the state.
“We sympathise with Kogi Government, families and all those who have been affected by the flood disaster,” Mohammed said.
Receiving the relief materials on behalf of government, Mrs Rosemary Osikoya, Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, commended the Federal Government for the quick response and intervention.
Osikoya noted that the exact degree of destruction by the flood was yet to be ascertained, as the government was still collating data from all the affected communities.
She added that the ministry had been stretched to the limit by the development, saying the state government has provided prompt interventions within its financial capacity.
“We call on all other stakeholders, individuals, groups and corporate organisations to come to the aid of the victims by giving the necessary support in terms of food and other relief materials.
“We thank NEMA for the relief materials and we are calling for more support and assistance for all other affected communities across the state. We need support from other stakeholders,” she said.
She also appealed to the victims and the people that were still living in flooded areas to vacate immediately, saying that it was unsafe to continue to sleep in flooded houses.
Mrs Comfort Alege, Special Adviser to Kogi Governor on Sanitation and Emergency Management, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that NEMA has laid a good foundation for assisting Kogi flood victims.
She commended the state government for the efforts put in place to cushion the adverse effects of the flood on the affected people, and solicited for more support from other stakeholders.