The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has begun the distribution of relief items to 22,000 households affected by the 2022 flood disaster in Jigawa.

The Director General of the agency, Mustapha Ahmed, said this at the inauguration of the distribution exercise on Monday in Dutse.

He said the intervention was being implemented under the 2023 Special National Economic and Livelihood Emergency Intervention (SNELEI), designed to ameliorate the sufferings of affected persons.

Represented by Musa Zakari, director of human resource management in the agency, Mr Ahmed said the agency was distributing economic strengthening equipment to provide livelihood support to the affected families.

He listed the items to include sewing and grinding machines, food and non-food items, mats, blankets, nets, cooking utensils, and detergents.

“NEMA is distributing hybrid seeds, herbicides, pesticides, growth enhancers, liquid fertiliser, water pumps, and sprayers to the farmers to enable them to cultivate their farmlands.

“While the livelihood support is to help artisans improve their businesses and sustain themselves”.

The State Governor, Umar Namadi, lauded the gesture, describing it as timely and would ease the sufferings being experienced by the victims of the disaster.

Represented by his deputy, Aminu Usman, the governor said the gesture demonstrated the government’s commitment to improving the well-being of its citizens.

While urging the beneficiaries to ensure effective utilisation of the items, Mr Namadi warned against the diversion of the commodities.

(NAN)