The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Wednesday flagged off the distribution of relief materials to victims affected and displaced by recent banditry attacks in Katsina State, even as the agency urged authorities and residents to take proactive measures against potential flooding as the rainy season peaks.
The distribution, carried out on behalf of the Federal Government, targeted six Local Government Areas (LGAs) worst-hit by the attacks — Musawa, Kurfi, Safana, Bakori, Sabuwa, and Kankara — and was handed over to the Katsina State Government for onward delivery to affected households.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Deputy Governor of the State, Alhaji Faruq Jobe, the Director General of NEMA, Mrs Zubaida Umar, underscored the importance of timely disaster interventions while emphasizing the need to transition from crisis response to long-term resilience.
“This intervention is not only a response to a crisis, but a well-thought-out effort aimed at fostering resilience and rebuilding hope in communities affected by armed violence,” she said.
While commending the administration of Governor Dikko Umar Radda for its commitment to disaster risk reduction, the NEMA boss highlighted the agency’s concerns over the looming risk of flooding due to intensified rainfall across the country.
“I strongly urge the State Government to intensify efforts in flood preparedness, particularly by clearing drainages, sensitizing communities, and relocating households situated in high-risk flood zones to safer grounds,” she added.
She reaffirmed NEMA’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the state government, stressing that only a unified and anticipatory approach to disaster management can effectively safeguard vulnerable populations.
Receiving the relief items on behalf of the state, the Secretary to the State Government, Abdullahi Garba Faskari, appreciated NEMA’s prompt intervention, describing the gesture as timely and impactful. He assured that the items would be distributed transparently and reach the targeted beneficiaries.
The distributed items, though not specified in detail, are expected to include essential food and non-food supplies to alleviate the immediate needs of those displaced by the banditry incidents.
The Katsina visit forms part of NEMA’s broader strategic engagements aimed at enhancing subnational emergency preparedness and ensuring that relief efforts are not only swift but also coordinated and sustainable.
24/07/2025
