The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has donated relief materials to victims of the recent flood disaster in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State.
In a statement issued to newsmen yesterday in Abuja, the managing director of the commission, Mohammed Goni Alkali, during the handover exercise in Maiduguri, said the donated items include both food and non-food materials aimed at alleviating the suffering of those affected by the flood.
He noted that the relief materials include 10,000 bags of rice, 10,000 cartons of spaghetti, 15,000 branded mats, 15,000 blankets, 10,000 buckets, wrappers, 5,000 cartons of cooking oil, 5,000 packs of children’s clothing, and 7,500 mosquito nets.
Alkali revealed that the NEDC plans to distribute a total of 200,000 bags of rice, 150,000 cartons of spaghetti, 250,000 cartons of cooking oil, 200,000 blankets, 200,000 mats, 30,000 pieces of brocade, 50,000 wrappers, 65,000 pieces of children’s clothing, and 20,000 mosquito nets across the six states of the Northeast.
“The MD said, ‘We were recently in Adamawa, Bauchi, Yobe, and Taraba. Today, we are here in Maiduguri, and tomorrow, we will be going to Gombe to assess the collapsed bridges to intervene.'”
He emphasised that the commission will work through the political structures of each state to ensure efficient distribution.
While these efforts are immediate, Alkali noted that the commission is also developing medium- and long-term strategies for the overall development of the region.
Regarding the collapsed Alau Dam, Alkali said the commission has awarded a contract for its renovation and desilting, but in light of the recent developments, they will review the contract and award a new one for the complete rehabilitation of the dam.
