Dozens flooded oil communities get relief materials from NDDC

By Ben Eguzozie & Chuks Ihejirika

• But citizens need more than flood palliatives to restart their lives

Dozens of communities in Nigeria’s oil rich Niger Delta region, which were ravaged by destructive floods last year, have been receiving relief materials from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), a development-purpose quango established in 2000.

According to Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua, managing director of the commission, the President, Muhammadu Buhari and the minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Umana Okon Umana, prompted the commission to respond quickly to the challenges caused by the floods.

The benefitting communities straddle Abia, Bayelsa, Delta Imo states; while several others are still struggling to get back up.

Many civil society groups and development analysts who spoke to Business A.M. indicated that the community folks need more than temporary flood palliatives to restart their lives.  In most of the communities, houses and farmlands were washed away by the ravaging floods. Fishing gears and boats were blown far asea, with the owners of these needing replacement of these equipment.

At Okeikpe in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State, where families were given relief materials, Audu-Ohwavborua, the NDDC managing director, guaranteed that the commission would continue to make a difference in the lives of the people in the region, through the pursuit of critical and relevant interventions in its mandate states.

He said the commission handed over relief materials worth millions of naira to be distributed to flood-impacted communities in Abia State as part of its efforts to support flood victims in the Niger Delta region.

“It is in the spirit and vision of ameliorating the plight of our people, following the ravages of the flood and supporting the good works of the relevant agencies and state governments in the region in providing some succour to the flood ravaged needy people in the region, that this flag-off Ceremony is being conducted today,” the commission’s boss said.

“We are looking forward to re-starting our flagship programme of free medical outreach to various communities in the region as a means of bringing critical life-saving health services nearer to the people in under-served and indigent communities across the region, especially at this time when flooding has disrupted healthcare systems and infrastructure”.

Okey Kalu, the chairman of Ukwa West Local Government Area, thanked the NDDC for executing what he called “impactful projects” in his council area, which he said, included the reconstruction of the Obehie-Okeikpe Road.

He assured that the relief materials donated by the commission would be distributed transparently to the affected people.

Chinyere Dike, the chairman of Ukwa-West traditional rulers council, noted that the palliatives would go a long way in cushioning the effects of the flood.