The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has launched a significant relief effort by sending 200,000 bags of rice to support victims of recent floods in the North-Eastern states of Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi, and Taraba. The distribution is part of a broader initiative aimed at providing immediate assistance to communities devastated by severe flooding.
The relief effort was officially confirmed by the Managing Director of the NEDC, Mohammed Alkali, during a formal presentation in Maiduguri. Alkali outlined that, in addition to the rice, the commission is also supplying 150,000 cartons of macaroni and spaghetti, and 250,000 gallons of vegetable oil to further address the nutritional needs of those impacted. Beyond food items, the relief package includes non-food essentials such as mats, blankets, mosquito nets, and clothing for both adults and children.
This support represents the NEDC’s swift response to the widespread flooding that has ravaged large parts of the region, affecting countless families and livelihoods. Alkali emphasized that state and federal lawmakers from the affected areas would be actively involved in overseeing the distribution of the relief materials. This is to ensure that aid reaches all constituencies fairly and that no community is overlooked during the relief process.
The current intervention follows Alkali’s recent tour of flood-hit areas, where he witnessed firsthand the scale of the destruction. He stated that the immediate support being provided is only part of the commission’s short-term assistance plan, with more aid anticipated in the near future. “The immediate support is a short-term measure. More aid will follow,” Alkali assured, highlighting that the commission is committed to sustaining its efforts to alleviate the suffering caused by the floods.
One of the hardest-hit areas is Maiduguri, where the flooding has been exacerbated by the breakdown of the Alau Dam, which has remained at full capacity for over a week. The resulting overflow has submerged numerous homes, leading to what officials are calling the worst flooding in the city since 1994. The situation has become so dire that Prof. Usman Tar, the Commissioner for Information and Internal Security, issued an evacuation alert for residents living along riverbanks, urging them to move to safer areas.
The toll of the flooding has been catastrophic, with 33 reported deaths, 148 affected communities, and over 50,000 people displaced from their homes. Authorities are scrambling to provide shelter and basic necessities to those who have lost everything. Additionally, the World Health Organization (WHO) has been called upon to enhance disease surveillance and strengthen routine immunization efforts in the region to prevent the outbreak of diseases, which often follows such large-scale disasters.
The NEDC’s intervention is part of a broader, long-term plan to mitigate the effects of the flooding and rebuild affected communities. The commission has pledged continued support and has reassured the public that more resources will be mobilized to help flood victims recover and rebuild their lives in the wake of this tragedy.
