By Praise Chinecherem
National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has donated food items worth millions of Naira to Anambra State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) for victims of 2022 flooding in the State.
The items included over 200 bags of rice, 200 bags of beans, 200 cartons of noddles, 200 gallons of 5 litre of vegetable oil, other food items as well as Cheque of N5million to be shared to over 567 flood victims.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NIWA, Dr George Moghalu, described the guesture as the agencies own way of assisting flood victims in the country.
Moghalu, represented by General Manager, Special Duties Engr. Mohammed Dangana said the items would have come earlier but was delayed as a result of procurement procedures and other processes.
He said, “NIWA brings succour at the time of need to people and we have done it in nine states including Delta, Rivers, Bayelsa, Kogi, Niger, Benue and Jigawa aimed at alleviating the suffering of flood victims.
“These items, meant for 2022 flood victims in Anambra would have come earlier than now, but because of the procedures for procurement and the processes and other things, it is coming now.
“As part of NIWA Corporate Social Responsibility program, there was need for us to support the affected victims by providing necessary palliatives or relief materials for them at this time of need.”
Responding on behalf of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, Executive Secretary of SEMA, Chief Paul Odenigbo, said 567 people were affected in the 2022 flooding in the State.
He thanked NIWA and Federal government for remembering the victims in the state, promising immediate distribution of the items to the affected victims so they would feel the impact of NIWAs kind gesture.
Odenigno seized the opportunity to appeal to prone flooding communities in the state to be ready for any eventuality regarding to 2023 flooding.
He said, “I urge communities who are prone to flooding to please get ready. Flooding will come and when it comes, you are expected to come out for your lives.
“When you come out, we will provide housing, feeding and other basic things of life for you until the water recedes.”
