By Rita Iliya
Suleja – Niger state Government has distributed relief items worth N30 million to victims of flood in Suleja and Tafa Local governments areas of the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that 14 persons died while property worth millions of Naira were destroyed during the flood disaster that affected about 600 people on July 6.
Alhaji Ahmed Inga, Director-General of the state Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), said that the gesture was government’s effort aimed at reducing the effect of the disaster on the victims.
“You should see the situation as an act of God and use the relief materials judiciously as government cannot compensate for what has been lost, but will always come to the aid of the people,” he said.
Inga called on the residents to desist from building structures on waterways, adding that government had directed relevant agencies to commence the proposed restructuring of the city.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Suleja Council, Alhaji Abdullahi Maje, commended the state government for its prompt response to the plight of the flood victims.
He said that the council had set up a committee to monitor and prevent people from building on waterways.
“Those trying to rebuild houses or structures on the affected areas or waterways will be stopped by the committee as we do not want a reoccurrence of the incident,” he said.
Malam Sai’du Abubakar, one of the victims who lost his two wives and six children in the disaster, thanked the state government for the relief materials.
“I will look for a portion in an area that is not prone to flood, an area that is safe for me to build. I will never build on waterways again,” he said.
NAN reports that items distributed included bags of cement, textile materials, spices, rice, roofing sheets and nails, semovita, palm oil, vegetable oil and cash.
NAN reports that the Command Secondary School, Suleja, received N3.5 million for the reconstruction of the school fence affected by the flood. (NAN)