NEMA distributes relief materials to 638 victims rainstorm in Kebbi

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has distributed relief materials to 638 victims of rainstorm in Kebbi.

The Head of NEMA Sokoto Operations Office, Dr. Kofoworola Soleye, who was represented by Head of Account Unit,Alhaji Abubakar Yusuf, distributed the materials to the affected victims in Birnin Kebbi on Wednesday.

Soleye said that a team of the Agency already came and assessed the quantity of the damage caused by the rainstorm in the state,adding that the relief was not to pay the victims but to cushion the effect of the difficulty they faced.

“We are here not to pay the 638 victims of the storm but to show our concern and give some relief materials to them in order to cushion the effects of the disaster caused by the rainstorm.

Read Also:Banditry: Gov. Masari advocates re-introduction of village security council(Opens in a new browser tab)

“The relief materials comprised 114 bags of rice, 114 bags of beans and 114 of millet 12 kegs of vegetable oil, 10 cartons of tin tomatoes, 19 cartons of seasoning cubes, 228 pieces of foam mattresses, 342 pieces each of nylon mats, blankets and mosquito nets.

“Others are, 980 bags of cement, 980 bundles of roofing sheets, 216 packets of zinc nails, 109 bags of three inches nails and 980 pieces of ceiling boards,” Soleye said.

The coordinator also sympathised with the victims of the rainstorm that destroyed many properties and livestock in the area.

In his remarks, the Executive Chairman of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Alhaji Sani Dododo, said that the victims of the storm were carefully selected and recorded by the district and village heads in Birnin Kebbi Local Government Area ( LGA) in order to ensure their proper identities.

Dododo also said that the seasonal rainfall prediction (SRP) by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) predicted that some parts of the state and the country might experience heavy rainfall this year.

“The prediction may be worse than what was predicted earlier as we have so far witnessed an extension of the flood to other four local government areas that are not amongst the 11 predicted to witness flood by NIMET,” he said.

Dododo said, “The agency will not relent in its efforts to ensure the protection of people’s lives and property.

“We are going to collaborate with all the stakeholders in the state to sensitise the public to take precautionary measures against disasters; especially flood and windstorm, and their management in both the rural and urban areas.

The chairman also appealed to the residents in the riverine areas to relocate to the upland, and the general public to ensure the evacuation of wastes from waterways and drains within and around their environment.

Also, the Chairman of Birnin Kebbi Local Government Council, Alhaji Aminu Magatakarda, commended NEMA for the gesture while urging the victims to ensure the judicious use of the items.

One of the victims, Muhammad Shehu, commended the agency for providing the relief materials to them.

It could be recalled that the windstorm had destroyed no fewer than 300 houses at Badariya area, Mobile Police Barrack, Bayan-Kara and parts of Gesse III in Birnin Kebbi; Kwasara, Ka’oje and Tuga in Bagudu Local Government Area, following the rainstorm of June 19.

Other areas affected are: Tundi and Birnin Yauri in Yauri Local Government Area and Saminaji in Koko/Besse Local Government Area as well as some communities in Bunza Local Government Area.

NAN