By KATO P. LADAN, Kaduna
The Minister Of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq and the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) AVM Muhammadu Muhammad (Rtd) at tye weekend stormed Kaduna State with over 109 truck loads of grains as COVID-19 palliiatives and other relief items for flood victims.
The food items handed over to the state government on Friday October 9 as covid-19 palliatives were maize 1,515.25 Metric tonnes (above 50 trailer load), Sorghum 1,583.61 Metric tonnes (53 trailer load) and
Millet 190.94 Metric tonnes (6 trailer load) meant for 443, 025 households in the state.
Speaking while presenting the items, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development said that President Muhammadu Buhari, approved the release of the palliatives from the National Food Reserve for distribution to vulnerable persons affected by the action of movement restriction to curtail the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.
“We all know that the outbreak of the pandemic has brought about changes and challenges to our normal ways of living.
“Most obvious of this are the vulnerable persons that depend largely on others for their daily survival,” she said.
She explained that such persons are the aged, people living with disabilities and persons of concerns, that deserve support in terms of basic necessities including foods.
“In addition, Your Excellency, I am here to also convey the sympathy of the Federal Government to the Government and people of Kaduna State over the windstorm and flood that occurred in some Local Government Areas of the State. The affected Local Government Areas are Sanga, Kaura, Jaba, Chikun, Jema’a, Soba, Kachia and Kubau.
“The President, Muhammadu Buhari GCFR is concerned about the windstorm and flood and has directed the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to activate the National Emergency Management Agency to immediately respond.
“Therefore, Your Excellency, I have come here with the Director General of NEMA to carryout the presidential directive to provide necessary supports to the affected persons.
“To cushion the effect of these disasters, we are here with some relief items approved for distribution to complement the efforts of the State Government to the affected persons as follows: 730 bags of (12.5kg) Rice, 730 bags of (12.5kg) Maize, 730 bags of (12.5kg) Beans, 73 kegs of Palm oil, 60 cartons of seasoning, 37 bags of iodized salt, 85 cartons of tomato paste, 1460 pieces of Blanket, 1460 pieces of mattresses, 1460 pieces of Nylon mats, 1460 pieces of Mosquito nets, 630 bags of Cement, 630 bundles of Roofing sheets, 630 pieces of Ceiling boards, 105 bags of 3 inches Nail, 210 packets of Zinc Nail”
Additionally, the Minister explained that relief materials have been approved for flood victims in Kaduna Metropolis and environs as follows: 839 bags (12.5kg) of Rice, 839 bags (12.5kg) of Beans, 839 bags (12.5kg) of Maize, 139 cartons of Seasoning, 72 cartons of tomatoes paste, 42 bags of iodized salt, 83 kegs of vegetable oil, 1678 pieces of nylon mats, 1678 pieces of mattresses, 1678 pieces of mosquito nets, 3635 bundles of roofing sheets, 3635 bags of Cement, 3635 pieces of ceiling boards, 236 packets of Zinc nails, 236 bags of 3 inchesNails”
The Minister and DG NEMA were received in Government House Kaduna by Governor Ahmed El-Rufai. They were later accompanied to the warehouse where the relief items were stored by the state Commissioner for Home Affairs and Internal Security Mr Samuel Aruwan who received the items on behalf of the State Governments and the beneficiaries.
