668,884 households would benefit from the 2023 National Special Economic and Livelihood Intervention for Nigeria’s most vulnerable citizens and flood victims from 2022.
Director General of NEMA Mustapha Ahmed, made this statement in Awka during the flag off of distribution of items to beneficiaries in Anambra state.
Based on reports the total of 800,904 households are to benefit from the gesture which is aimed at cushioning the effect of the flood devastation as well as the economic hardship occasioned by the removal of oil subsidy in the country.
The items provided by the Federal Government include: grinding machines, sewing machines, seed rice, mattresses, water pump machines, pots, stoves, buckets and blankets detergent, bath soaps, mosquito nets and pesticides.
Others are edible items like garri, beans, rice, maggi, sachet salts, sachet tomatoes and groundnut oil.
NEMA DG, who was represented by the Assistant Director of Planning, Research and Forecasting, Afolarin Olusegun, said specific procedures were followed, including an extensive assessment of those who are vulnerable as well as those who would be affected by the flood disaster in 2022.
He advised the beneficiaries to make utmost use of the items and avoid selling the none food items as it is expected that they continue their livelihood with the empowerment.
The Anambra state Governor, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Onyekachukwu Ibezim, commended the federal government for the kind gesture because the state government was unable to handle the full impact of the flood tragedy.
According to him, the flood incident affected health and school system, washed away roads, bridges and farmlands, while livelihood was badly compromised.
He hinted that the holding camps were already being activated and that people in the riverine areas would soon be moving in as the water level continue to rise this year.
In a remark, the Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Chief Paul Odenigbo noted that 10 local government areas were affected by the flood incident while the intervention which includes vulnerable persons in the three senatorial zones of the state will be distributed in three phases for a seamless exercise.
Some of the beneficiaries including Mrs Comfort Udeozor, Mr Ignatius Nnaemeka and Comrade Chidozie Agulu commended the federal and state governments for providing them with items that will put them back to their respective livelihoods, even as they pleaded that such interventions be made more regular to cushion the increasing hardship in the country.
Writing by Uche Ndeke; Editing by Jennifer Ogor, and Daniel Adejo