Nigeria Gets N400m Assistance From EU To Tackle Flood

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Nigeria Gets N400m Assistance From EU To Tackle Flood

The European Union, (EU), Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ketil Karlsen has disclosed that in a bid to help curtail the devastating impacts of the floods which has ravaged Nigeria, the union has approved one million euros (400 million naira) to assist three out of the nine states affected.

Karlsen made the disclosure at a press conference jointly organised by the European Commission in Nigeria and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

Giving a breakdown of how the fund is to be expended, Karlsen said , it is aimed at providing shelter, medicine and other basic needs for an estimated 60,000 victims in Anambra, Kogi and Delta States

His words, “We have responded decisively to the calls by the Nigerian government which seeked help from international partners , in addressing in the ongoing flooding which according to statistics has affected around two million people.

He said, “The European Union has mobilised one million Euros (N400 million) in support of the ongoing efforts.”

“This funding , he explained, aims at helping victims some affected states, by way of providing shelter, medicine and basic items. ”

This is aside the technical expertise and detail satellite maps provided by EU to aid management services.

The envoy advised the federal government to acknowledge the fact that the adverse effect of climate change is having a critical impact on its people.

He thus, called for a redouble effort to curbing further damages on lives and properties, by urging government at all levels to be proactive rather than reactive.

The Ambassador however added that the EU support was not limited to humanitarian aid but also included efforts to mitigate the effect of flooding through early preparation.

The envoy assured that the Commission would follow up on a clear supervision and monitoring to ensure that the materials are being delivered as urgently to the end users .

This is even as he further revealed that the European Civil and Humanitarian Aid Organisation (ECHO), has donated 48 million euros (€48m) in 2018 alone to support victims of the Boko Haram insurgency in the north east.

The Director General, national Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mustapha Maihaja in his remark acknowledged that flooding had displaced over two million people, 199 lost their lives and 307,554 hectares of farmland destroyed.

According to Maihaja, the assessment of farmlands could not be completed due to the fact that most affected farmlands were still surmerged.

The NEMA boss lamented that the number of affected persons increases daily due to the fact that the water creates more havoc as it flows down.

While lauding the EU for the support , he gave the assurance that the donated fund would be well utilised , revealing that his agency has put necessary mechanism in place to monitor and ensure even distribution of the relief materials.

While faulting claims that NEMA delivers such items to state government, he “We carry out direct distribution to the people. Our officials go to the remotest parts of Nigeria to distribute the relief items.”

“The EU Commission has provided the agency with data, information and corresponding analysis for the flood situation, metrological situation, dam water release scenario and impact assessment. He concluded.

 

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