22nd October, 2018
The Kogi Government on Sunday distributed foodstuffs and other relief items to 2018 flood victims in Bassa Local Government Area of the state.
Mr Sanusi Yahaya, the state Coordinator of Emergency Operation Centre (EOC), told newsmen at the distribution centre in Bassa, that the items were provided by Kogi government and donor agencies such as WHO and Unilever.
“Our coming here today is about being responsible and responsive to the needs of internally displaced persons and victims of the 2018 flood disaster in Kogi.
“Kogi Government under the leadership of Gov. Yahaya Bello procured these food items and non food items being distributed to the flood victims.
“We are here with the team of Kogi SEMA, Red Cross, and ministry’s officials to ensure hitch-free and transparent distribution of the items to victims in communities that have been profiled,” Yahaya said.
He added that many affected communities in Bassa LGA have been captured and categorised under three distribution centres such as Bassa Nge, Mosu and Oguma districts.
Yahaya, who doubles as the state’s Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, noted that two-third of the profiled victims were from Bassa Nge district in Shintaku with 16 communities on their list.
“By next week, we will do the same thing for those victims under Mosu and Oguma district, after which we will move to other LGAs as well,” he said.
He advised the victims to remain calm and be patient, saying that Gov. Yahaya Bello’s Administration has worked very hard to attract succour and support from different organisations.
“The Federal Government through NEMA has also brought lots of both food and non food items, which would be distributed as soon as the logistics for distribution is worked out,” he said.
Mrs Jummai Makobia, the Director Administration and Finance, SEMA, said the Agency had earlier visited the affected communities for need assessment, moving from house to house to get the details of the affected people.
One of the beneficiaries, Umar Tenimu, from Kabawa Shintaku, thanked the government for distributing the relief items directly to them unlike before that would be diverted.
Ahmed Audu from Ecewu community appreciated the government for the gesture and commended the officials for travelling to their communities to handover the items to them.
“We are grateful to the state and federal governments, and donor agencies,” Audu said.
Items donated to the victims were bags of rice, beans, flour, guinea corn, maize, cartons of tomatoes, cartons of milk, Milo, salt, Semovita, soaps and detergent, among others.