The federal government, on Monday, flagged off the distribution of relief materials to victims of the 2022 flood disaster in Ondo State.

Speaking at the occasion in Akure, the minister of state for transportation, Mr Ademola Adegoroye, said that the gesture was part of the presidential palliatives to the 2022 flood victims in the state.

Mr Adegoroye, represented by Tajudeen Fasasi, Director, Internal Audit, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, said that the materials were being distributed in collaboration with his ministry and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

“We are aware that no amount of relief provided by the government can replace the losses as a result of the flood.

“However, it is our candid belief that the items will help alleviate the burden currently being faced by our people,” he said.

The minister said that the gesture was not just a physical distribution of materials but that it represented the compassion and empathy of the government toward the people.

According to him, the relief materials approved for distribution are in four categories.

“These categories are: social relief care packs, which include mattresses, pillows, blankets, cooking pots, etc.

“Also included are nutritional packs which include: cartons of noodles, bags of rice, bags of beans, etc,” he said.

Mr Adegoroye said that the palliatives also included: livelihood and building materials, such as grinding machines, sewing machines, hair clippers, cement, roofing sheets and ceiling boards.

“These materials will be meticulously distributed in all the identified local government areas of the Niger Delta states to forestall diversion or any irregularity.

“The communities or LGAs highly impacted by the effect of the flood were identified by NEMA through the needs assessment they conducted after the flood,” he said.

The minister further stated that the items would be handed over to NEMA for onward distribution to the beneficiaries, as identified in the affected communities/ LGAs.

“In addition, government officials and security personnel have been assigned to monitor the distribution exercise to ensure that these items get to those for whom they are meant,” he added.

In his remarks, Director-General of NEMA, Mr Ahmed Habib, represented by Mr Kadiri Olanrewaju, said that the distribution exercise was the first phase.

Also, a member representing Ilaje/Ese-Odo Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Mr Kolade Akinjo, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari and the agencies involved in the exercise.

He called for proper monitoring of the distribution of the relief materials.

(NAN)