The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq, has disclosed plans to start using Nigerian Air Force jets for dropping relief materials to victims of flood disasters and the Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in Borno State.
The minister made the disclosure while while briefing the state Deputy Governor, Umar Kadafur in Maiduguri where she went for the distribution of assorted food items to 26,067 households who were victims of Boko Haram insecurity and floods in the state.
According to her, the state government should, therefore, provide the necessary information required to enable the NAF to start dropping the items in locations that are inaccessible.
She said: “I am here on behalf of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and members of the National Humanitarian Coordination Committee (NHCC), to discuss the immediate humanitarian needs of your state.
“I will also like to use this opportunity to applaud the efforts of the State Government in providing food and non-food items to its vulnerable population; as well as your willingness to work with and support Humanitarian stakeholders providing humanitarian interventions in your state.
“Your Excellency, we have noted and are aware that due to the recent restriction of movement to curtail the COVID-19 pandemic and inaccessibility of communities due to floods and insecurity; vulnerable persons, especially the IDPs, may require further support in terms of basic necessities including food from federal government,” Ms Farouq said.
The minister said the food items included 26,067 bags of 12.5kg rice; 26,067 bags of 25kg beans; 26,067 bags of 12.5kg maize/millet; 1,304 bags of 20kg salt 2,607 – 20L kegs of vegetable oil 4,345 cartons of seasoning cubes and 2,173 cartons of tin tomatoes.
Responding, the Kadafur thanked federal government for the sustained support to the state, and assured of the state commitment towards continued collaborate in the area of providing humanitarian services to the people.
