RELIEF MATERIALS: ABIA LOSES 21 LIVES TO FLOOD

REPORTER: JOHN MADUAGWU

The Federal Government has delivered some relief materials for victims of flood disaster in Abia State.

The items included 1,400 bags of 10kg rice, maize and beans; 75 kegs of vegetable oil, 75 bags of iodized salt, and 1,000 pieces each of men, women and children’s wears.

Handing over the items to the Abia State Government in Umuahia, the Head of Operations, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Owerri, Imo State, Mr. Ifeanyi Nnaji, who represented the Director General of the agency, lamented that over 450 local government areas in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, were affected by the flood.

This had resulted in colossal loss of lives, livelihood, property and infrastructure.

He therefore called for better understanding of flood disaster risk by looking into previous flood disasters, taking advantage of early warning alerts by relevant agencies and adequate investment in disaster risk reduction.

Accepting the materials on behalf of the victims, the Secretary to the Abia State Government, Mr. Chris Ezem, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Special Services, Mr. Okechukwu Ihedioha, thanked the Federal Government for its swift response to the flood disaster which also affected Abia State and assured him that the items would be equitably distributed to those affected.

Earlier, the Execitive Secretary, Abia State Emergency Management Agency, Dr. Sunday Jackson, noted that while Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency had enlisted only seven local government areas in the state as areas of high probable flood risk and two others areas mentioned as areas with moderate flood risk.

However, 12 local government areas were eventually affected by the flood, leading to a loss of 21 lives.

He expressed happiness with the intervention of the Federal Government, which he said would go a long way in assisting the victims.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU