The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), on Wednesday, distributed relief materials to victims of flood in Yangoji community, Kwali Area Council, Abuja.

The items distributed included food and nonfood items, such as rice, maize, spaghetti, macaroni and cooking oil.

Others are mattresses, mosquito nets, plastic buckets, soap, cups, cooking stuff, pots, wrappers and building materials – cement, zink, nails and ceilings.

The agency’s director-general, Abass Idriss, said during the event at the palace of the village head that the gesture was to cushion the effects of the flood on the victims.

Mr Idriss said the flood, which occurred in the early hours of July 4, destroyed 70 houses, washed away several farmlands and properties and affected more than 180 people.

He advised community residents, particularly those living on flood plains, to relocate to higher ground to avoid reoccurrence.

Olusade Adesola, the permanent secretary, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), said while handing over the items to some of the victims that the gesture was to help the victims to recover from the shocks.

Mr Adesola added that the support would assist the victims to rebuild their lives while finding a lasting solution to the recurring flood in the area.

He expressed President Bola Tinubu’s sympathy, adding that the relief materials were his way of saying, “I feel your pain and agony”.

He commended the chairman of Kwali Area Council, Danladi Chiya, for the support and urged him to establish a Local Emergency Management Committee in the area.

Earlier, Mr Chiya thanked the FCTA and FEMA for the support, which he described as “very timely”, to ease the pains of the victims.

Also, the Village Head of the community, Dantani Chindawa, said that apart from the flood, the community was equally faced with security challenges.

(NAN)