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From John Adams, Minna
Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) has disbursed N70 Million cash and other relief materials to victims of various fire disasters in the state to assist them cope with the loses suffered from disaster.
The Director General of the agency, Alhaji Abdullahi Baba Arah made the disclosure during a press briefing and distribution of cheques to the victims of New Market in Minna, saying that relief materials to the sum of N4 million was earmarked for food and non food items.
Cheques ranging from N4million to N600,000 were handed over to 50 beneficiaries who were victims of various fire incidents across the state which the state government said was meant to cushion the effect of the disaster.
Among the beneficiaries was a farmer in Kontagora local government area whose entire farm was set ablaze by suspected armed Bandits in December last year.
Distributing the cheques to affected beneficiaries in Minna on Friday, the Director General NSEMA, Alhaji Baba Arah explained that four cases of major fire disasters were recorded within the period under review, including an entire household that razed down at new market area, a suburb of Minna, the state capital.
Apart from the fire disasters, the Director General disclosed that there were other disasters across the state last including boat mishap and those displaced by floods which relief items have been Distributed to them by the agency.
The Niger State Deputy Governor, Comrade Yakubu Garba represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Bello who witnessed the the presentation of the cheques in a brief ceremony on Friday expressed sympathy with the victims of the disaster, assuring that the government is deeply concerned about their plight.
He said that the government decided to give speedy approval for the funds and other relief materials because it is passionate about the wellbeing of the poor, the down trodden and vulnerable in the society.
He assured of the people that their security and welfare remains the priority of the administration in the state, but however warned residents in the state to take the necessary precautions to prevent some avoidable fire incidents
A symbolic cheques were presented Isah Garba (N600,000), Samuel Ezekiel (N1.624,000), Abdullahi NURA (N4.045,000), Maimuna Yusuf (N1.520,000) and Abdulrahman Ibrahim (N210,200).
According to the Director General, other beneficiaries will have their money sent directly to their various account.
In his remarks, a community leader, Ahmed Jafaru appreciated the Niger state government for the kind gesture and prompt intervention, saying that this will go a long way in cushioning the impacts of the disaster on the victims and assured of the proper utilization of the resources.
