Protocol:
I am extremely delighted to witness this very important occasion of the flag off distribution of support items to beneficiaries of the Special National Economic Livelihoods Emergency Intervention (SNELEI). Your Excellency may recall that the Federal Government approved this intervention specifically for people affected by the 2022 flood disasters and those classified as the most vulnerable persons across the country.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, you may recall the sad incident of the 2022 flood disaster which devastated many communities across the country including here in Jigawa State. I had the cause to personally visit some of these communities in Jigawa State during the peak of the flood disaster, where a number of people were displaced and their farmlands and crops were completely inundated.
Following the flood, search and rescue operations were successfully conducted in several locations where trapped persons were rescued and given necessary care. Immediately after the flood incident, damage and loss assessment were conducted and relief items approved by the Federal Government were delivered across the states to complement initial intervention by the state Governments.
Furthermore, based on the assessments which were jointly conducted by the NEMA and State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs), the Federal Government approved this Special Intervention to assist vulnerable persons across the country and those affected by the flood to support their quick return to normalcy. This intervention is also expected to drive the sustainable socio-economic resilience of the targeted most vulnerable individuals. NEMA staff were deployed to conduct the verification of the target beneficiaries in collaboration with personnel from SEMAs, State Ministries of Agriculture and other relevant Stakeholders. A total of 660,884 Households were verified and targeted to benefit from this special intervention across the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Ladies and Gentlemen, permit me to advise the beneficiaries to make proper use of the items to improve their socio-economic conditions. Beneficiaries are also enjoined to be orderly during the distribution exercise as all those verified will receive their items.
The agricultural inputs such as crop seedlings and equipment are given to take farmers back to the land, stimulate crop production and safeguard our national food security in the middle economic downturn. Furthermore, the intervention is expected to stimulate value chain activities at the grassroots. At the same time, the livelihood support items are meant to help artisans to improve their business and grow the economy. Beneficiaries are therefore advised to avoid selling the items and destroy the good intention of the Federal Government.
Your Excellency, permit me to specially thank Mr President, His Excellency Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR and the Vice President, His Excellency, Senator Kashim Shetima GCON for all the supports given toward the implementation of this intervention. May I equally thank the Jigawa State Government, especially His Excellency, Governor Umar Namadi, his Deputy, Alhaji Aminu Usman Gumel and the Jigawa SEMA for providing us all the necessary support to accomplish this intervention. I sincerely appreciate members of the Jigawa state house of assembly and our Royal Fathers for attending the occasion. May I also appreciate security agencies, members of the press and the staff of NEMA Kano Territorial Office that have worked hard despite the short notice to ensure the success of today’s flag off of distribution of intervention items to the good people of Jigawa state.
Thank you all.
