The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has pledged to provide relief
materials, including medical supplies to flood victims in communities
across the Niger Delta region.
Speaking during an inspection of some of the affected communities, the NDDC
Acting Executive Director, Projects, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, said that the
Commission’s Interim Management Committee, IMC, headed by Gbene Dr. Joi
Nunieh, would assist the flood victims as directed by President Muhammadu
Buhari.
The NDDC team visited communities in Bomadi Local Government Area and
Kaiama in Kolokuma Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State and
Mbiama in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Dr. Ojougboh said: “A lot of the villages in communities across the region
have been flooded and scores of people have been displaced. Many of the
rural dwellers are in Internally Displaced Camps, IDPs, and the NDDC will
make provisions for them. We will provide medical and relief materials so
that they too can join in the Christmas festivities.”
He told some flood victims in Kaiama that the intervention of the NDDC
would go beyond taking care of the immediate needs of the displaced
villagers to tackle some of the post flood realities, which include taking
measures to ward off the outbreak of diseases.
Ojougboh explained: “The flood took most people unawares but we can
anticipate what follows when the water recedes. That is why we have decided
to intervene to save our people from preventable diseases.”
The NDDC Acting Executive Director Projects observed that some lessons had
been learnt from the recent flood, stating: “We now know that we should be
better prepared next time. For now, we will do our best to help alleviate
the suffering of the people.”
He said that when the water recedes, the NDDC would work out a
comprehensive plan to ensure that the flood disasters did not take people
unawares again. He noted: “As the flood is receding, we are making adequate
preparations to provide some cushion for our people who may have lost
personal belongings, crops and animals from their devastated farms.”
Charles Obi Odili
Director, Corporate Affairs.
November 20, 2019.