FG set to distribute 12,000MT food to 1.4m flood victims

President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to provide immediate relief to victims of flood across the country.

Minister in charge of the ministry, Hajia Sadiya Umar Farouq, who disclosed on Friday in Abuja, said that 90,000 houses have been destroyed in more than six states that have been affected by flood with 1.4million people already displaced. Over 500 people have been counted to have lost their lives as a result of the ravaging flood.

The minister in a social media post said her ministry is working out plans to immediately respond to the needs of the victims.

In the last one month, flood had wrecked havoc in Jigawa, Kogi, Nasarawa, Anambra, Edo and some parts of Lagos.

The minister wrote: “You are all aware of the widespread floods that have been ravaging many states, local governments, and communities in Nigeria. The scale of devastation of the present flood situation in the country can only be compared to the 2012 floods. More than 500 lives have been lost, more than 1.4m persons affected, and about 90,000 homes either partially or totally destroyed, and still counting. Also destroyed are thousands of hectares of farmland which has worsened fears of a disruption of food supply in Africa’s most populous country. These widespread cases are in 27 out of 36 states and the FCT.

“While we shall not apportion blames, we need to acknowledge the fact that we all had enough warnings and our advocacy was timely. However, communities must recognize that all disasters are local and they must take climate predictions and flood outlook warnings seriously. We can not out rightly eliminate floods but we can keep people safe. That responsibility is collectively ours.

“The ministry and all relevant stakeholders are working on implementing the National Flood Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan that was recently approved by the Federal Executive Council.

“The plan stipulates specific roles and actions for all states and local governments as well as households, communities, and pressure groups. The ministry considers the importance of preventing deaths and loss of lives in a disaster that is predicted and occurs every year.

“As directed by HE President Muhammad Buhari @nemanigeria has commenced the distribution of 12,000 metric tonnes of food and non-food items to states devastated by the recent floods.”