Flood victims will get relief, medical supplies, NDDC assures

BOMADI, Bayelsa, Nigeria – The Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has pledged to provide relief materials, including medical supplies to flood victims in communities across the Niger Delta region.

Speaking during an inspection of some of flooded communities, the NDDC Acting Executive Director, Projects, Dr. Cairo Ojougboh, said that the Commission’s Interim Management Committee, IMC, headed by Gbene Dr. Joi Nunieh, would assist the flood victims as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari.  

The NDDC team visited flooded communities in Bomadi Local Government Area and Kaiama in Kolokuma Opokuma Local Government Area of Bayelsa State and Mbiama in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Dr. Ojougboh said: “A lot of the villages in communities across the region have been flooded and scores of people have been displaced. Many of the rural dwellers are in Internally Displaced Camps, IDPs, and the NDDC will make provisions for them. We will provide medical and relief materials so that they too can join in the Christmas festivities.”

He told some flood victims in Kaiama that the intervention of the NDDC would go beyond taking care of the immediate needs of the displaced villagers to tackle some of the post flood realities, which include taking measures to ward off the outbreak of diseases.

Ojougboh explained: “The flood took most people unawares but we can anticipate what follows when the water recedes. That is why we have decided to intervene to save our people from preventable diseases.”

The NDDC Acting Executive Director Projects observed that some lessons had been learnt from the recent flood, stating: “We now know that we should be better prepared next time. For now, we will do our best to help alleviate the suffering of the people.” 

He said that when the water recedes, the NDDC would work out a comprehensive plan to ensure that the flood disasters did not take people unawares again.

He noted: “As the flood is receding, we are making adequate preparations to provide some cushion for our people who may have lost personal belongings, crops and animals from their devastated farms.”