The Nasarawa government has distributed bags of cement, nails, timbers, bundles of zinc, ceiling boards, among other items as relief materials to people affected by flood in three communities in Nasarawa Eggon and Akwanga local government areas of the state.

Allumaga Zakari, the Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency (NASEMA) executive secretary, while disclosing this on Monday in Lafia, said the gesture was to assist to cushion the hardship occasioned by the flood on the residents.

“In view of this, the state government has distributed relief materials ranging from bundles of zinc, timbers, bags of cement, nails and ceiling boards, among others to enable them to reconstruct their homes,” Mr Zakari said.

Mr Zakari listed communities that were ravaged by flood to include Wakama and Gbunka, and Ola Hospital and College, which was submerged and their structures destroyed.

He said the agency had also procured five boats and given them to five local governments along the River Benue, for the purpose of evacuation in the event of flood.

Continuing, he said, “For those who lost their fishing equipment to the flood, the state government has approved money to buy new ones. We are expected to do the same to the flood victims in Keffi soon, a lot of resources have been committed to assist disaster victims.”

Mr Zakari said the agency had sensitised people residing in flood prone areas to relocate immediately the rains began, and also inaugurated the Local Emergency Management Agency (LEMA) in all the 13 LGAs of the state.

“Branches of LEMA comprise all traditional rulers, officials of LGAs, Red Cross, Fire Service, Civil Defence, state Ministries of Information, Health, Agriculture Environment and Water Resources, with a charge to sensitise their people,” Mr Zakari said.