Spreading Hope: NEMA Delivers Food and Relief Aid to 16 States

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Thursday received donations of rice and other humanitarian relief supplies from the Bank of Industry (BoI) and the Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to support individuals affected by flooding and other disasters in Nigeria.

During the handover ceremony in Abuja, NEMA’s Director-General, Zubaida Umar, stated that BoI contributed 18,653 bags of rice, while the UAE government provided 50 tons (1,696 cartons) of humanitarian aid. This assistance aims to bolster the efforts of both the Federal and State Governments in mitigating the impacts of ongoing floods and disasters.

Umar remarked, “These donations from BoI and the UAE reflect both deep sympathy for those severely impacted by disasters and the long-standing bilateral relationship between Nigeria and the UAE. Such gestures emphasize the importance of a collaborative, multi-stakeholder approach to disaster management on a global scale.”

She indicated that the rice would be distributed among six states to aid internally displaced persons (IDPs) in camps. The states selected for assistance were based on the number of IDPs and the urgency of their needs. The distribution will be as follows: Imo (3,500 bags), Benue (3,000 bags), Plateau (1,669 bags), Jigawa (3,000 bags), Katsina (3,850 bags), and Zamfara (3,634 bags). Of the total, 10,484 bags will be collected from NEMA’s Kano warehouse, while 8,169 bags will come from the Abuja warehouse.

Umar also noted the UAE’s donation of 50 tons of humanitarian aid, consisting of 1,696 cartons, each containing 20 assorted food items to create complete food baskets. This aid will be shared among ten states significantly affected by the recent floods, based on their urgent needs. The states receiving aid include Borno (256 cartons), Bauchi (160 cartons), Sokoto (160 cartons), Adamawa (160 cartons), Kano (160 cartons), Bayelsa (160 cartons), Ondo (160 cartons), Abia (160 cartons), Rivers (160 cartons), and Enugu (160 cartons).

The Director-General highlighted that this year, over 180 Local Government Areas across Nigeria have been affected by flooding, displacing more than one million people and resulting in over 280 deaths.

“As governments work to mitigate disaster impacts, the timely donations from BoI and the UAE will significantly enhance the Federal Government’s efforts to provide relief to those affected by floods and other disasters,” Umar stated. She expressed her sincere gratitude to the donors and urged the beneficiary states to ensure that the aid is distributed transparently and judiciously to alleviate the suffering of affected individuals.

Adam Abatcha, Senior Special Assistant on Liaison Services to Borno State Governor Babagana Zulum, also commended the generous contributions. “I want to express my appreciation for the remarkable support extended to the people of Borno State,” he said.