Vulnerable groups, farmers and other residents of Yola, Adamawa State have benefitted from relief items donated by the North East Development Commission (NEDC).
The state office of the commission presented the items on Thursday in Yola and an equitable distribution by groups’ leaders to the intended beneficiaries.
Food and non-food items, including 30,000 25kg bags of rice; pieces of brocades, children’s wears, blankets and other items were given to cooperatives, religious groups and people with disabilities.
Agricultural produce-processing machines, including 40 ridgers and 30 2-discploughs; 35 tractors and 35 trailers, 30 planters and harvesters, and 16 rice millers as well as 2,000 bags of fertilizers were given to the Adamawa State Food Security Committee for distribution to farmers.
The acting coordinator of the NEDC in Adamawa State, Hajiya Fatima Bakari, who presented the materials to benefitting groups, also announced that the commission, in its latest intervention, is desilting and evacuating municipal wastes from drainages within the state.
The NEDC official advised representatives of benefitting groups to follow suggested criteria in ensuring that the items get to those who need them the most.
Rev Zenald Zidon who represented NGOs and the Christian community during the flag off of the distribution ceremony, said the food and non-food items would be highly appreciated by beneficiaries at these difficult times.
Receiving the agricultural machines meant for farmers, the chairman of Adamawa State Food Security Committee, Dishi Khobe, thanked the NEDC for donating the machines and fertilizers, and assured the commission that the items would be equitably distributed to farmers’ cooperatives that had already been identified for onward distribution to benefitting individual members.