The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar Farouq, has visited Bayelsa and Delta states to commiserate with the governments on the flood disaster which destroyed farmlands, property and livelihoods.
The minister said at the Government House in Yenagoa on Tuesday that apart from the 12,000 metric tonnes of grains already distributed to states affected by the floods, as approved by President Muhammadu Buhari, the federal government, through her ministry, has also delivered three consignments of food and non-food items to Bayelsa State since July, 2022.
She commended the state government for its support to its people during the initial time of distress, adding that government sympathises with all the victims and states devastated by the disaster.
She said: “Given the magnitude of the devastation in the state and most parts of the country at large, l wish to inform you that His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the release of 12,000 metric tons of assorted food commodities from National Strategic Reserve for distribution to victims of this flood disaster in the country as a way of assuaging their suffering.
“In addition, there are relief materials and other interventions that have been provided since July, 2022 by NEMA, an agency under the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs.
“I wish to also commend Bayelsa State government for providing support to the flood affected persons and to acknowledge the understanding of the public on the intervention by the Federal and state governments.”
The minister also officially rolled out the Home Grown School Feeding Programme with Bayelsa being the last state to join the programme, as well as the Government Enterprise Empowerment Programme (GEEP 2.0).
She said: “We are also rolling out the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP 2.0)
designed for vulnerable and low-income Nigerians who are involved in productive activities but have no access to loans.
“The first phase of GEEP programme registered about 8,762 potential beneficiaries in Bayelsa State across the 8 LGAs, after which verification was carried out and about 828 beneficiaries were selected.
“These selected beneficiaries have under-gone enumeration and today l have come to roll out the programme in the Bayelsa State. Hence, successful beneficiaries of the GEEP programme will start receiving credit alerts from Access Bank from today by God’s grace.”
In his response, the state governor, who was represented by his deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, thanked the minister for her visit and urged her to give more loans to farmers in the state to assuage their losses to the floods.
He said: “It is better to be late than not come at all. The cause is beyond the state and the country. Man has treated the environment badly and the environment has decided to fight back. We are happy that you have finally come.
“We urge you to increase the number of beneficiaries of the GEEP programme so that more farmers can produce more food, having lost most of their farmlands to flood.”
In a related development, the minister also sympathised with the Governor of Delta State, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, on the flooding in the state.
She said: “On behalf of the Federal Government and the entire management and staff of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, we have come to commiserate with the government and good people of Delta State and to express our sympathy and condolences to you over this unfortunate incident of flood disaster.
“The Federal Government has approved 12,000 tonnes of grains for states affected by floods and, out of this, 105 metric tons of maize, 88.7 metric tons of sorghum and 98.7 metric tons of garri are to be distributed to the victims of flood disaster in Delta State.
The minister also rolled out the GEEP 2.0 programme in Delta State with 4,657 beneficiaries.
She said: “A total of 33,838 potential beneficiaries were registered across 28 LGAs in Delta State, after which 11,991 were verified and 4,754 were enumerated.
“The total number of 4,657 beneficiaries were finally selected to receive disbursement.”
