SPEECH DELIVERED BY ZUBAIDA UMAR, DIRECTOR-GENERAL, NATIONAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (NEMA) DURING THE OFFICIAL HANDING OVER OF 18, 653 BAGS OF 10KG RICE DONATED BY BANK OF INDUSTRY (BOI) AND 50 TONS (1,696 CARTONS) OF HUMANITARIAN RELIEF AID DONATED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF UNITED ARAB EMIRATES (UAE) TO SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENT OF FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA IN ASSISTING PERSONS AFFECTED BY FLOODING AND OTHER DISASTERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, HELD ON 3RD OCTOBER 2024.
Protocols.
I am very delighted to welcome all dignitaries here present to this epoch- making event. As you are aware, we are gathered here to witness the handing over of 18, 653 bags of 10kg rice donated by the Bank of Industry (BOI) and the 50 tons (1,696 cartons) of humanitarian relief aid donated by the Government of United Arab Emirates (UAE) to support the ongoing efforts of the Federal and State Governments of Nigeria in mitigating the impact of the on-going flood and other disasters in the country.
The donations of relief materials by both BOI and the Government of UAE symbolize the manifestation of deep sympathy for people severely impacted by disasters on the one hand, and a long-standing bilateral relationship between Nigeria and the UAE, on the other. The gestures further entrench the essence of multi-stakeholder and multi-national approach to disaster management in global perspective.
As you may recall, BOI donated about 18,779 bags of 10kg rice to NEMA. The rice was shared to six (6) States to assist internally displaced persons in IDP Camps in those States. The selection of the beneficiary States was based on the number of IDPs in the state, the urgency and severity of needs of the affected persons. The States are:
1) Imo State – 3,500 bags
2) Benue State – 3,000 bags
3) Plateau State – 1,669 bags
4) Jigawa State – 3,000 bags
5) Katsina State – 3,850 bags
6) Zamfara State – 3,634 bags
Of these, 10,484 bags will be picked from NEMA’s Kano warehouse, while 8,169 bags will be picked up from its Abuja warehouse.
Similarly, you will also recall the donation of 50 tons of humanitarian relief aid by the Government of the UAE to assist persons affected and impacted by the recent flooding in Nigeria. The donation is made up of 1,696 cartons; and each carton contains 20 assorted food items, making a complete food basket.
Like in the case of the BOI rice, the UAE donation was shared to 10 States considered highly impacted by the 2024 flood, the urgency and severity of needs of the affected persons. The beneficiary States are:
1. Borno State – 256 cartons
2. Bauchi State – 160 cartons
3. Sokoto State – 160 cartons
4. Adamawa State 160 cartons
5. Kano State – 160 cartons
6. Bayelsa State – 160 cartons
7. Ondo State – 160 cartons
8. Abia State 160 cartons
9. Rivers State – 160 cartons
10. Enugu State – 160 cartons
Ladies and gentlemen, as we all know, flooding is one of the most reoccurring disasters in Nigeria. This year alone, over 180 LGAs across the country have been impacted by flooding, affecting over one million persons, with over 600,000 persons displaced and over 280 deaths. As Governments at various levels try to mitigate the impact of disasters in all ramifications, the donations by both BOI and the Government UAE have come at the right time and will go a long way in complementing the efforts of the Federal Government of Nigeria in providing succour to persons affected by flood and other disasters across the country.
On this note, I wish to most sincerely thank the donors and also urge the beneficiary States to ensure that the donated items are judiciously and transparently distributed to persons affected by flood and other disasters to mitigate their sufferings.
Therefore, on behalf of the Federal Government, I hereby hand over to the above listed beneficiary States the quantities of the donated relief items allocated to them.
Thank you all.
