By Deborah Coker
Flood-hit communities across Delta North Senatorial District have begun receiving relief materials from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) following a motion of urgent national importance sponsored by Sen. Ned Nwoko.
This is contained in a statement from the Ned Nwoko Media Directorate and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.
Nwoko’s motion, “Urgent Call for Emergency Provisions for Victims of Flooding in Delta North Communities”, drew national attention to the plight of displaced residents in Oshimili South, Ndokwa West, and Ndokwa East Local Government Areas.
In response, NEMA has released essential relief materials, including food items, which are being distributed directly to victims by its Benin Operations Office in collaboration with the office of Senator Ned Nwoko, who is covering the cost of transportation and logistics to ensure the supplies reach the affected communities.
Nwoko, who welcomed the intervention, described it as a critical lifeline for affected families.
According to him, on Sept. 12, a significant milestone was recorded in our collective efforts to bring succour to the people of Delta North.
“The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in collaboration with the Delta State Emergency Management Agency, officially carried out the delivery and distribution of relief materials to families affected by the devastating floods that struck parts of our senatorial district earlier this year.
“This intervention was the direct outcome of my formal appeal to NEMA in July, after torrential rainfall wreaked havoc across communities in Ndokwa East Local Government Area and beyond, submerging farmlands, destroying homes, and leaving many displaced.
“The situation was dire, as livelihoods were lost overnight, children and women were exposed to hunger and hardship, and once-thriving communities were reduced to zones of despair.
“Recognising the urgency of the moment, I reached out to the Director-General of NEMA, Mrs Zubaida Umar, with a passionate plea for immediate federal support.
“I am pleased to report that this call was not ignored. NEMA conducted an on-ground assessment through its Benin Operations Office and, upon Federal Government approval, mobilised substantial relief items for our people.”
The lawmaker however, stressed that beyond short-term relief, the region needed lasting infrastructural safeguards.
He announced his ongoing push for the dredging of the River Niger and constructing embankments, while also highlighting his successful lobbying for the inclusion of a N27 billion Coastal Road project in the NDDC budget.
“The ambitious project will connect Asaba to riverine communities like Oko, Abala, Utchi, Okpai, Aboh, Onyah, Asaba-Ase, and Patani, opening up the flood-prone belt to economic opportunities and stability.
“Relief items bring immediate comfort, but only durable infrastructure will break the cycle of destruction our people face year after year,” he added.
He commended NEMA for the swift and coordinated response, while also assuring his constituents of his interventions
“I sincerely appreciate the D-G of NEMA, for her swift and coordinated response, and to the people of Delta North, this is more than just a relief distribution.
“It is proof of what representation means to me. Representation is not about making promises; it is about taking action. It is about standing with you in difficult times, ensuring that the arm of the Federal Government reaches our communities when it matters most.
“I assure you all that this is only the beginning. I remain steadfast in leveraging my office in the senate to bring more interventions, more development, and more opportunities to Anioma land.
“Together, we will overcome disasters, rebuild livelihoods, and restore confidence in a brighter tomorrow. Together, we rise above challenges. Together, we build a stronger Anioma, a stronger Delta North, and a stronger Nigeria,” Nwoko said.
The relief package include 300 bags of 25kg parboiled rice, 300 bags of 25kg garri, 300 cartons of spaghetti, 30 cartons of five litres vegetable oil, 30 cartons of tomato paste, 30 cartons of seasoning cubes and 20 bags of iodised salt.
(NAN)