NEMA distributes relief materials to windstorm victims in Abia
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The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), on Friday began the distribution of relief materials to persons affected by windstorm in two local government areas of Abia.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the windstorm had wreaked havoc in Ibeme and Oberete Communities in Obingwa Local Govermnent Area, as well as in Umunkpeyi Community in Isiala Ngwa Council Area in 2021.
The distribution which took place at the office of the Abia State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) in Umuahia, had some of the affected persons and their representatives present.
The exercise was supervised by the Head of NEMA, Owerri Operations Office, Mr Ifeanyi Nnaji, who represented the agency’s Director-General, Mr Mustapha Ahmed.
Some of the items distributed included bags of 50 kg cement, bundles of roofing sheets, bags of nails, foams and food items.
Nnaji, in a brief remark, said that a joint team of assessors from Owerri and Abia SEMA had earlier conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the affected areas.
According to him, the team also conducted the victims’ needs analysis to ascertain the impact and level of destruction caused by the disaster.
“You should please note that the relief materials provided to you today is not to pay you back for all that were destroyed by the disaster.
“It is only to cushion the effect of the unfortunate incident, as some things are intangible and cannot be replaced,” he said.
He commended Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu for making SEMA a “functional, effective and proactive disaster management outfit with the responsibilities of attending to disaster issues in the state”.
The Executive Secretary of SEMA, Dr Sunday Jackson, thanked NEMA for always offering assistance to the state, saying it would provide succour to the affected people.
Jackson, who commended the governor for providing the enabling environment, told the affected persons that the relief materials were only meant to cushion the effect of the disaster.
He advised communities to always take some precautionary measures to avert disaster, especially as the rainy season approaches.
Also, the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Chris Ezem, who was represented by Jackson, lauded the Federal Government for coming to the aid of the state.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Chief Innocent Nwanua from Umunkpeyi Nvosi, expressed gratitude to the agency for fulfilling its promise at the time most needed. (NAN)
