Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar, has delivered food and non-food items including medical supplies to those affected by the tanker explosion in Niger.
Umar, who visited the community on Monday and flagged off distribution of the items, said it was also in line with the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and continuation of the Federal Government’s commitment to support in the recovery of the community from the disaster.
She said, “based on the report of the first rapid assessment carried out by officials of NEMA, NSEMA and other first responders, we have come to provide immediate assistance of food and non-food items including medicaments to the affected families.”
Update on the disaster indicate that 98 persons lost their lives, 69 have different degrees of injuries while 20 shops were burnt in the inferno, a statement by Manzo Ezekiel, NEMA’s Head of Press Unit said.
While sympathiaing with the people, the Director General NEMA assured that the Agency would coordinate comprehensive efforts aimed at assisting in their recovery from the disaster.
She further said, besides the mourning over the tragic incident, it was also a reminder for every community to pay attention to the urgent need for disaster preparedness and to be proactive in safeguarding lives and property.
The DG NEMA commended the Swift response of first responders to the incident, particularly the rescue teams of NEMA, Niger State Emergency Management Agency, fire fighters, Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corp, medical personnel, community members, security operatives and other stakeholders that acted swiftly under pressure to save lives and mitigate further damages.
Present at the occasion was the Deputy Speaker of Niger State House of Assembly Hon. Afiniki Daudu who appreciated the prompt response of the Federal Government in the delivery of the relief items through NEMA. Also present were the Chairman of Gurara Local Government Area, Alhaji Abdulhalim Abubakar, Director General of Niger State SEMA, Comrade Abdullahi Arah and the community leaders.
