By correspondent in Lokoja m
The Nigeria Red Cross Society (NRCS),on Saturday, disbursed N91.5 million to assist 1,000 victims affected by the 2022 flood disaster in Kogi.
Our correspondent reports that the beneficiaries, primarily elderly were also given essential food items such as rice, beans, gari, palm oil, and groundnut oil in Ajaokuta.
Alhaji Dauda Muhammed, NRCS Assistant Coordinator for Disaster Management, supervised the distribution across five communities in Ajaokuta and Bassa Local Government Areas of the state.
“The benefiting communities include Ajaokuta and Kporoko in Ajaokuta LGA, and Gbobe, Kpata, and Goji in Bassa LGA,” Muhammed explained.
He said: “We allocated 250 beneficiaries each from Ajaokuta and Kporoko communities, and 200 from Gbobe, 150 from Kpata, and 150 from Goji communities, totaling 1,000 beneficiaries from these areas.”
“Each beneficiary received N91,500 through customized ATM cards for cash disbursement, alongside food palliatives consisting of 25kg bags of rice, 12kg bags of beans, 12kg bags of gari, and five-litre kegs of palm oil and groundnut oil.
“The Red Cross donated a borehole to each community to enhance sustainable water access.”
Muhammed emphasized that the aid which targeted the most vulnerable affected by the 2022 flood disaster, aimed to help them recover from the hardships caused.
Mr. Benjamin Ajodo, NRCS Kogi Branch Chairman said that NRCS said that earlier assessments and inventories of flood-affected structures and items, carried out which preceded the distribution was to ensure efficient that allocation of resources.
In a goodwill message, the Onu of Ajaokuta, Ibrahim Mustapha Aye-oba, praised the Red Cross management for their support, adding that the gesture would substantially relief the victims.
He noted that the efforts of the NRCS in providing vital aid to communities affected by disasters demonstrate their commitment to humanitarian relief across Nigeria.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.