The National Emergency Management Agency donated 370.5 tonnes of assorted grains to the Zamfara State government in Gusau on Friday for onward distribution to flood victims and vulnerable persons.
The Zamfara deputy governor, Sen. Hassan Nasiha, received the grains on behalf of the state government from the NEMA Director of Finance, Sani Jiba, who represented the Director-General, Mustapha Ahmed.
He said the 370.5 tons of grains were more than 7,300 50kg bags.
He explained that the grains included 166 tonnes of maize or 3,320 (50kg) bags; 142 tonnes of sorghum or 2,840 (50kg) bags, and 62.5 tonnes of millet or 1,250 (50kg) bags.
He said the grains were part of the 12,000 tonnes of assorted food items from the National Strategic Reserves Stock, released by the Federal Government for distribution to 36 states and the FCT.
According to him, the Federal Government cannot adequately compensate for the traumatic experiences of persons affected by disasters.
“We have to help people to alleviate their sufferings with these Federal Government-approved relief items,” he said.
The agency also presented food and non-food items for distribution to victims of the 2022 floods in Zamfara.
The food items included 1,000 bags each of rice, beans, and maize, 75 bags of salt, hundreds of cartoons of tomato pasteseaso, ning cubes and vegetable oil.
The non-food items were 8,000 units of nylon mats, 1,000 insecticide-treated mosquito nets, cartons of bathing soap, 2,500 pieces of guinea brocade, 1,000 pieces of wear each, for women, men and children, among other items.
The NEMA boss acknowledged the Zamfara government’s effort to provide the first line of support for the affected population.
“We appreciate the personal donations of public-spirited individuals and the “can-do’’ spirit of the people for helping one another to recover from the floods.
“It is my honour and privilege to formally present these materials for distribution to deserving victims through the good offices of the governor in fulfilment of the lofty ideals of President Muhammadu Buhari,” Ahmed said.
He also commended the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Faruk, for her “unwavering commitment and doggedness’’.
Receiving the items, the deputy governor thanked the Federal Government for the timely intervention.
He said the state government was not relenting in tackling the overwhelming challenges, including insecurity.
Nasiha warned that the state government would prosecute officials caught diverting the relief materials in the course of distributing them.
(NAN)
