The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Engr. Mustapha Maihaja has said that, with ongoing efforts to tackle and assist flood victims in the country, the agency has further declared national disaster in five states of Adamawa, Taraba, Rivers, Kebbi and Bayelsa following a devastating flood that ravaged the states.
He stated that this has brought to nine the number of states under national disaster caused by the flood devastation.
A statement issued on Friday by NEMA’s Head of Media and Public Relations, Sani Datti, said the four other states earlier declared last month were: Niger, Kogi, Anambra and Delta.
The statement reads, “It will be recalled that on 17th September 2018 National Disaster was declared in Kogi, Niger, Delta, Anambra States.
“In consideration of the data and information being received, in particular the Preliminary Damage Assessment (PDA) and guided by relevant NEMA Policy documents, additional 5 states are observed to have been impacted severely by the disaster.
“On the consultation, subsequent endorsement of all the stakeholders here present, and the delegation of Authority conferred on me by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I, Eng. Mustapha Yunusa Maihaja the Director General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) hereby declared National Disaster in the five (5) states of Adamawa, Bayelsa, Kebbi, Rivers and Taraba.
“I once again commend the efforts and commitments of all stakeholders, and the International Partners for their contribution so far to the success of this operation. This is highly appreciated.
“Finally, the addition of the 5 states declared expands the scope and the needs for the response and therefore called for more support accordingly.”