The Federal Government has commenced the distribution of relief materials to a total of 300 victims of natural disasters in Ekiti State.
Flagging off the distribution on Thursday, on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, announced that there would be more goodies for the people from the Federal Government.
Dr. Fayemi said President Buhari was concerned about the plight of victims of natural disasters like rainstorm and flood, many of whom had been rendered homeless.
Relief materials distributed included rice, millet, cement, corrugated iron roofing sheets, nails, asbestos, blankets, mats, clothings, toiletries, detergents, among others.
The Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mustapha Yinusa Maihaja, Governor Ayodele Fayose, who was represented by his Special Assistant on Emergency Matters, Mr. Akinwale Rasheed and General Manager of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mr. Femi Osasona, were with Dr Fayemi at the commencement of the distribution.
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One of the beneficiaries is the traditional ruler of Ayegunle-Ekiti in Ijero Local Government Area, Oba Johnson Folorunso Aderiye, whose palace roof was recently blown off by rainstorm. The monarch was represented by Chief J.S. Oludola.
Fayemi disclosed that Buhari was concerned about the effects of rainstorm and flood on the people of Ekiti State, and had ordered NEMA to send the relief materials fordistribution to the state.
According to him, President Buhari was ready to assist all Nigerians irrespective of their political affiliation, religion, ethnic background, culture and language.
He said: “What NEMA is doing here today is not the first time the Federal Government under President Buhari is coming to the rescue of our people.
“The President believes that he is the President of all Nigerians and that is why the states that had benefited most from his government are opposition states because it is Nigerians that are living and working there.
“That is the message of Mr. President; he is the president of all Nigerians regardless of race, party affiliation, race, religion, culture and language. He will always work for all Nigerians as long as they are Nigerians.”
He said Ekiti had received lots of assistance from the Buhari administration since coming to power in May, 2015 including two tranches of bailout funds, budget support fund for 13 months, Paris Club refund and N2 billion Ecological Funds.
Earlier in his remarks, NEMA DG Maihaja, noted that Ekiti was one of the states that first experienced rainstorm around February which he said was witnessed in about 27 other states.
Maihaja said climate change caused many natural disasters to victims across the country noting that natural disasters and floods can overstretch federal and state governments.
He added: “On behalf of my agency, we express our deep concern and sympathy to all the people that were affected.
“We have brought some of the materials with which we are flagging off the scheme to alleviate the suffering of the people affected.”
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