The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has distributed 18,653 bags of rice to six states impacted by the recent flooding.

The bags of rice were donated by the Bank of Industry (BoI) and they are expected to be distributed to Imo, Benue, Plateau, Jigawa, Katsina, and Zamfara states.

The director general of NEMA, Zubaida Umar said the support from the bank would support the ongoing efforts of the Federal and State Governments in mitigating the impact of the ongoing flood and other disasters in the country

Speaking in Abuja on Thursday during the symbolic handing over of the items to beneficiary states, Umar also disclosed that 1,696 cartons of humanitarian relief aid donated by the Government of United Arab Emirates (UAE) would be handed over to ten states.

Umar said: “We are handing over 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 gestures further entrench the essence of multi-stakeholder and multi-national approach to disaster management in global perspective.”

Highlighting how the items would be distributed, she said: “BOI donated about 18,779 bags of 10kg rice to NEMA. The rice would be shared with 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 and the urgency and severity of the needs of the affected persons.

“The States are Imo State 3,500 bags, Benue State 3,000 bags, Plateau State 1,669 bags, Jigawa State 3,000 bags, Katsina State 3,850 bags and Zamfara State 3,634 bags.”

The agency said 10,484 bags will be picked up from NEMA’s Kano warehouse, while 8,169 bags will be picked up from its Abuja warehouse.

Umar added that the 50 tons of humanitarian relief aid by the Government of UAE to assist persons affected by the recent flooding is made up of 1,696 cartons and each carton contains 20 assorted food items.

She added that the donation from UAE would be shared with 10 States considered highly impacted by the 2024 flood.

The beneficiary States are: “Borno State 256 cartons, Bauchi Se 160 cartons, Sokoto 160 cartons, Adamawa 160 cartons, Kano 160 cartons, Bayelsa 160 cartons, Ondo 160 cartons, Abia 160 cartons, Rivers 160 cartons and Enugu State 160 cartons”.

She thanked the donors and urged 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.