About 17 communities in the five local government areas of Nasarawa State affected by the flood in 2024 have received relief materials to cushion the effects of hardship occasioned by the impacts of the flood.

Director-General of the Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency, Zachary Allumaga, while inaugurating the distribution of the items on Tuesday in Lafia, said the gesture was also extended to fire disaster victims in the state.

Mr Allumaga explained that the agency only takes responsibility for the distribution of building materials such as cement, roofing sheets, nails, and household items which included mattresses, mats, buckets, plates, and spoons, among others.

He said that the ministry for special duties on humanitarian services and non-governmental organisations earlier distributed food items to the flood victims in the state.

According to him, the distribution of the building materials is part of the N3 billion ecological fund earlier received from the federal government to assist the victims of floods in Nasarawa State.

He said that the state was prone to flooding because of its proximity to the River Benue linking five LGAs of the state.

Mr Allumaga listed the affected LGAs to include Awe, Nasarawa, Toto, Lafia, and Doma.

The director-general, while thanking the federal government under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu for the support, said that the state government was committed to doing all it could to mitigate flooding.

Mr Allumaga underscored peaceful coexistence in the state to bring about more development and appealed to the people of the state to take precautionary measures against fire disasters and floods.

“I have always said that people should learn to adhere to flood mitigation measures given by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency and National Emergency Management Agency, such as timely evacuation to high ground. They should also avoid building on waterways and stop dumping of refuse in drainages. Also, considering the season we are now, people should always ensure to switch off electrical appliances both at home and in offices and markets when not in use to guard against fire outbreaks,” he said.

The DG said that the agency was poised to discharge its responsibility as enshrined in the act that established it to prevent and mitigate disasters in the state.

“Our first priority is to stop the crisis of any kind and mitigate disasters, not the distribution of the relief materials alone. I think that should be a rare thing to do,” he said.

Two of the beneficiaries, Abubakar Rhama and Emmanuel Angulu, thanked President Bola Tinubu and Governor Abdullahi Sule for their support and promised to make judicious use of the materials.

(NAN)