Nigeria Red Cross Society (NRCS) has disbursed over N304 million to 5,000 flood disaster victims in Jigawa State.
Speaking while flagging up the distribution at Auyo town, the headquarter of Auyo local government area in the state, the president of the NRCS, Prince Oluyemisi Adeaga, said “the gesture was aimed at supporting the most vulnerable, including widows, people living with disabilities, child-headed households, pregnant mothers and displaced families.
Adeaga explained that the beneficiaries were from three local government areas of Auyo, Kirikasamma and Malam-Madori local government areas.
He said, “in the midst of diversity, we’ve validated our support for 11,500 beneficiaries across 13 states in Nigeria. Thirteen states! That’s not just a number’s 11,500 stories of hope, 11,500 opportunities to rebuild, 11,500 reasons to believe in the power of human compassion.
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“Here in Jigawa, we registered 5,000 families, and the breakdown is as follows. We will give 3,000 families agricultural assistance with N150m that will help them produce better yields on their farms, while 2,000 others will get cash assistance of N154m. Totaling 5,000 families and N304m.
“The NRCS initiated an anticipatory flood response project to provide support to vulnerable communities in Jigawa state, aimed at lessening the impact of anticipated floods by assessing and registering communities in Auyo, Kirikasamma, and Malam Madori LGAs as part of the intervention for the 2024 flood response.”
Adeaga stated further that today’s exercise was being done in Jigawa state was the result of a nationwide analysis conducted in 2024 to validate households from the Flood Emergency Appeal 2024, adding that following a comprehensive validation process, which ensured the accuracy and eligibility of 11,500 beneficiaries across 13 states in Nigeria, the NRCS commenced the distribution of aid, with being phase one.
He said that the objective of nationwide exercise, which will take place throughout Nigeria in 2025, is to distribute Cash and Voucher Assistance (CVA) to the 11,500 validated beneficiaries across Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Edo, Enugu, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kwara, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Sokoto, Yobe, and Zamfara states, ensuring efficient and transparent delivery of aid.
In her remarks, Zubaida Umar, the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), noted that the gesture reflects the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to providing relief to communities impacted by the flood disaster.
Umar, represented by Dr Nuraddeen Abdullahi, NEMA’s Coordinator, Kano Territorial Office, said as its key stakeholder, the NRCS plays a crucial role in complementing public authorities in humanitarian intervention.
She noted that the agency, recently distributed essential relief materials, including food and non-food items, to affected families in 18 LGAs of the state.
On his part, Governor Umar Namadi appreciated the organisation for its humanitarian assistance to victims.
Namadi, represented by Dr Muhammad Bello, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Special Duties, said the gesture will not only bring relief to the victims, it will also help in the gradual recovery and restoration of their means of livelihood.
Also, the NRCS branch Chairman in the state, Mr Bala Chamo, said 1,200 victims from Auyo, 2,000 from Malam Madori and 1,800 from Kirikasamma will benefit from the gesture.
Bala added that 3,000 of the victims will receive N50,000 each under agricultural assistance, while 2,000 of the victims will receive N77,000, under cash assistance.
In his goodwill message, the Chairman of Auyo LGC, Bilya Ahmed, commended the Red Cross for the good gestures, saying that it will go a long way in mitigating the plights of the victims.
Some of the beneficiaries, Hajiya Duniya Manu and Jafaru, thanked the organization for the kind gesture and pledged to make judicious use of the money.
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