DG NEMA solicit cooperation of community leaders in relief distribution

Director General National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Engr Mustapha Maihaja has solicited the cooperation of community leaders in the on-going Federal Government's massive relief distribution to Internally Displaced Persons in the north eastern states of Borno, Yobe, Adamawa, Taraba, Gombe and Bauchi.

Speaking during a courtesy call on the Emir of Nguru in Yobe State Alhaji Mustapha Ibn Kyari, the Director General of NEMA who led a team of the Presidential Committee on the Special Relief Distribution in the Northeast, said the cooperation of community leaders was very important especially to help maintain peace and orderliness for the success of the exercise.

The Director General of NEMA said arrangement for the present relief distribution has taken into consideration the imperatives to preserve the respect and dignity of the IDPs as staff of the Agency have been deployed to distribute the items directly to the beneficiaries in their tents in camps and homes in the host communities.

He said adequate steps have also been taken to prevent diversion of the items through the use of trackers installed on the vehicles that are moving the items, which are simultaneously monitored at the NEMA head office and Nigeria Police headquarters in Abuja. Besides, he said all major humanitarian actors working in the northeast have also been mobilized to assist in the monitoring and evaluation of the exercise, adding that the community leaders are expected to do the same and even help in ensuring that all IDPs living in their domain benefit from the items.

He said security arrangement have also been made to further secure movement of the relief items and personnel engaged in the distribution including in remote locations.

While noting that the Federal Government has taken the bold step in the feeding of its citizens in distress, the Director General of NEMA  disclosed that the massive relief distribution that was flag off recently by the Acting President Professor Yemi Osinbajo in Maiduguri would be quarterly, starting with about 40000 metric tonnes of grains. Every household, he said would be given a standard measure that would be sufficient for a month before another round of  distribution.

Responding. The Emir of Nguru who was represented by the Wazirin Nguru appreciated the Federal Government for the bold steps in assisting the IDPs. He assured the cooperation of the Emirate towards the success of the exercise in the area.

The visit of the Presidential Committee on the Special Relief Distribution in the Northeast to Nguru was to inspect the warehouse where the items were being off loaded and assess the sharing of vouchers to the intended beneficiaries, preparatory to the commencement of the distribution of the items in the state.