Lifestyle

FG Consoles Victims of Port Harcourt Stampede

By Web News 481

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq, says the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has begun an assessment of the stampede which occurred in Rivers State at the weekend.

Scores of worshippers reportedly lost their lives and many others were injured during a stampede at a religious event held at the Port Harcourt Polo Club while rushing to get giveaways during a  Church programme.

Hajia Umar Farouq expressed sadness at the disaster and said that NEMA was already on the ground to assist in recovering bodies and taking survivors to the hospital for treatment.

“Immediately we heard of the stampede, NEMA swung into action through the State, SEMA and other immediate respondents including the police,  to rescue the injured and those trapped in the stampede.

“Efforts are being made to immediately provide relief for the injured after NEMA’s assessment. “We thank other rescue agencies of the Federal Government who assisted in rescue operations at the stampede site and send our heartfelt condolences to the people and government of Rivers state as well as families of the victims. We pray for the repose of the souls of the dead”, Umar Farouq stated.

The church programme, titled ‘Shop for Free,’ was organized by a church to help the less privileged get gifts and other food items for free.

Vanguard / Titilayo Kupoliyi

Environment

IDPs Rendered Homeless As Fire Razes Camp

By Web News 998

Over one hundred Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have been rendered homeless as a result of a fire disaster at Gamborun Ngala camp, in Borno state. 

The fire outbreak which occurred on Sunday evening completely destroyed 24 shelters which include 3 mudbrick shelters, 12 makeshift shelters and 9 Emergency shelters.

An Official of Borno state Emergency Management Agency, SEMA in Gamborun Ngala, Malam Yusuf Gulumba told Radio Nigeria in an interview that the cause of the fire is yet to be established, but, an investigation has already commenced. 

According to Malam Yusuf Gulumba, no life was lost due to the incident,  however, very few people sustained minor injuries while trying to put out the fire.

He called on Federal and Borno state governments to provide food and non-food items as well as shelter for the victims to address their immediate needs.

It’s in the record that the Gamborun Ngala camp has a population of over 40,000 IDPs and last witnessed such incident In April 2019.

FRCN, Abuja

Lifestyle

Delta State Empowers 250 Disaster Victims

By Web News 691

The Delta State Government says two hundred and fifty victims of disasters across the state have been empowered with relief assistance, in line with the commitment of the government to the welfare of the citizenry.

The Delta State Commissioner, Bureau for Special Duties Mr Omamefe Pirah, made this known in Asaba, on the occasion of the presentation of relief materials to the 2019 victims of fire and rainstorm disasters in parts of the state.

Oghenero Eghweree has the details.

Delta State Empowers 250 Disaster Victims

The Delta State Government says two hundred and fifty victims of disasters across the state have been empowered with relief assistance, in line with the commitment of the government to the welfare of the citizenry.

The Delta State Commissioner, Bureau for Special Duties Mr Omamefe Pirah, made this known in Asaba, on the occasion of the presentation of relief materials to the 2019 victims of fire and rainstorm disasters in parts of the state.

Oghenero Eghweree has the details.

Mr Omamofe Pirah explained the beneficiaries include victims of the 2019 rainstorm disaster which destroyed Ovrode community in Isoko North and Umukwata in Ukwuani local government areas.

The commissioner noted victims of fire disasters in 2019 in Sapele, Oleh, Warri and Isoko South also received relief materials from the government.

The Director, Delta State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, Mr Karo Ovemeso, explained the event was in line with the activities of the agency, who had carried out on the spot assessment of the disasters and had advised the state government on the best course of action.

Mr Ovemeso said the gesture was government show of empathy to the plight of the victims, while stressing the token given in the form of cash assistance was not a compensation for their loss.

A community leader from Isoko North, Mr Ezo Thomas who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries commended the government for assisting victims of disasters in the state.

Highlight of the occasion was the formal presentation of the relief materials by the commissioner and top officials in disaster management in the state.

Oghenero Eghweree

Crime

EndSARS: Ekiti Govt. Sympathizes with Victims

By Web News 851

Property worth over One Hundred Millions of Naira were looted and vandalized during the END SARS protests which lasted for about ten days on the streets of Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti state capital.

At the warehouse of the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, in Adehun Ado-Ekiti, items looted included bags of Rice, Beans,  noodles, fridges, Televisions, mattresses, tables, chairs and other relief materials kept for the victims of natural disasters in the state, while office equipment and the building were set on fire by the hoodlums.

About ten buses and a car using for distribution of goods and services by marketers at the Oodua Investment,  Textile market, Awedele Ado-Ekiti were totally vandalized by suspected hoodlums during the hijacked protest against the SARS brutality in the state.

In an interview, the SEMA’s General Manager, Mr. Jide Borode explained that the unfortunate incident happened on Friday evening where the grains stored for planting were also carted away.

Mr. Borode who said that the Agency was not in charge of palliatives, expressed shock that the materials meant for victims of natural disasters were looted by suspected hoodlums.

The Sales and Facility Manager, Oodua Investment, Mr. Olu Ogunride said that the hoodlums made efforts to break into the warehouses in the area but their efforts proved abortive and angrily vandalized the vehicles parked at the premises of the place.

During his unscheduled inspection of the areas where the incident took place, the Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, expressed shock at the level of damages done and sympathised with the victims of the END SARS protests.

Otunba Egbeyemi advised traders whose property were looted or destroyed to list all the items vandalized in a letter to the government with a view to taking appropriate steps.

The Deputy Governor urged people of the state to always embrace peace and desist from actions that could breed disaffections in the society.

Afolabi Oriola

Environment

NEMA Tasks Delta Govt. on Flood Mitigation

By Web News 990

The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, has alerted the people of Delta State to take urgent steps to mitigate the effects of possible flooding in eighteen local government areas of the state, listed among the one hundred and two Highly Probable Flood Risk Areas in twenty-eight states of the federation.

The Director General of NEMA, Muhammadu Muhammed, stated this in Asaba, during a flood advocacy visit to Delta State Government, where he categorized two hundred and seventy five LGA’s in thirty six states of the federation and the FCT as Moderately Probable Flood Risk Zones. The others are classified as Low Risk Flood Areas

The DG NEMA Muhammadu Muhammed listed the eighteen Highly Probable Flood Prone Areas to include: Ethiope West, Oshimili South, Oshimili North and Aniocha South.

Mr. Muhammed represented by a Deputy Director in NEMA Fatima Hassan, itemized others in the category including Warri North, Warri South, Ndokwa East and Anioch North. The others are Warri South-West, Ika South, Ika North East and Ndokwa West.

The other flood prone areas are: Ughelli North, Ughelli South, Patani and Burutu. While, Sapele and Ethiope East completes the list.

The DG NEMA therefor urged the State Government to direct response agencies and local government authorities to take measures towards mitigating the effect of imminent flooding in the targeted communities.

Responding, the Secretary to Delta State Government Chiedu Ebie, corrected that NEMA omitted three flood prone local government areas from the list of Highly Probable Flood Risk zones, noting the State Emergency Management Agency has highlighted one of them among regions currently experiencing flooding in the state.

Mr. Ebie observed the state government would no longer run IDP camps due to the COVID-19 pandemic and lack of capacity for wide scale testing, stressing the focus would be on massive advocacy and sensitization especially in the areas predict ted to experience flooding.

Others at the advocacy visit include the Director-General of the State Emergency Management Agency SEMA, Mr Karo Ovemeso and executives of the Edo Zonal Office of NEMA.

Click to listen

Oghenero Eghweree

Economy

Governor Abiodun Promises Succor to Sabo Market Fire Victims

By Web News 871

The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has commiserated with victims of the fire incident that gutted the popular Sabo Market in Sagamu.

The governor was at the scene of the fire for an on-the-spot assessment, to get first-hand details of the situation.

Governor Abiodun promised the victims speedy intervention from his government, as he said he would be liaising with the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and market leaders on providing some relief that would cushion their losses.

He appreciated the Paramount Ruler of Remoland, Oba Adewale Ajayi, for quick intervention and the visit to the market and the Fire Services from Abeokuta, Ijebu-Ode and Babcock University for their swift responses to the incident.

In his response, the Akarigbo of Remo land, Oba Babatunde Ajayi urged the affected traders to be patient with the state government in its quest to rebuild the market and also offer relief materials to them.

Wale Oluokun