World News

Nigeria Receives 50 Tonnes of Flood Relief Aid from UAE

Published by Tope Fakinlede on September 16th, 2024.

Nigeria Receives 50 Tonnes of Flood Relief Aid from UAE

The Nigerian Federal Government has received 50 tonnes of humanitarian aid from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to support those displaced by recent floods across the country.

The relief supplies arrived at the Cargo section of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Sunday at approximately 2:40 p.m.

Representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) were on hand to accept the aid.

UAE Ambassador to Nigeria, Salem Alshamsi, presented the aid, emphasizing that it was part of the UAE’s broader initiative to assist countries affected by natural disasters. This donation was made on the instruction of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed Al Nahyan to help mitigate the impact of the floods in Nigeria.

“This 50-tonne shipment of essential supplies is meant to support the Nigerian people in flood-affected regions. The UAE is committed to aiding nations in crisis, and we are pleased to assist,” said Alshamsi.

Dr. Ahmed Dunoma, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, thanked the UAE for their timely support, highlighting the strong bilateral relations between the two countries. He expressed gratitude on behalf of the Nigerian government and emphasized that the aid would significantly help those impacted by the floods.

Dunoma confirmed that the relief materials would be distributed to flood-affected areas in Nigeria.

NEMA’s Director-General, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, stated that the supplies would be distributed promptly to Borno and other impacted states once cleared. She underscored the importance of the aid in the current crisis and assured that it would reach all affected regions, including recent flood-hit areas in Enugu and Kaduna.

According to NEMA, flooding has affected 29 states and 172 local government areas, displacing over 625,000 people and causing 259 deaths between April and September 2024.