By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
Nigeria’s Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, says Jigawa state and not Bayelsa is the most affected state by the flood disaster that recently ravaged parts of Nigeria.
Farouq also exonerated the Federal Government of any blame in the human and material loss recorded across the country, even as she posited that government has intervened by providing relief materials for the victims of flood.
Speaking on Thursday at the 56th Session of the State House Briefing organised by the Presidential Communications Team held at State House Press Gallery, Abuja, insists that government has done the needful by providing succour for the victims across Nigeria.
The Minister who used the occasion to provide key updates on the strides being made by the federal government through the Ministry, and its Agencies in the provision of palliatives and emergency assistance to Nigerians that have been impacted by the recent floods that affected various regions of the country.
According to her the federal government through the ministry, its agencies like the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Nigerian Air Force have been providing the necessary relief materials for the flood victims especially in Bayelsa state.
Reacting to the criticism that federal government did not show enough empathy to the flood victims across Nigeria, especially in some of the most affected states like Bayelsa, Farouq said her ministry had distributed relief materials to affected persons in the states across the country.
Said she: “The federal government has reached out to the flood victims by providing relief materials including food items like rice and other grains. We have our officials on ground in the affected states. We made sure we involved the state governments, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the security agencies”.
Farouq who specifically reacted to the allegation that she is not humane by not physically visiting the flood victims across the country especially in Bayelsa, said federal government relief materials for Bayelsa state were distributed through Nigerian Air Force (NAF).
According to her: “the flood disaster is a national issue and several states are affected. I have to say that Bayelsa is not the worst hit. The worst hit is Jigawa state. In fact, I am doing my best in discharging my duties”.
“Merely looking at me, you know that I am humane,” she added.
