Port Harcourt—The Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) Friday donated relief materials to the Rivers State government to ameliorate the suffering of people affected by the ravaging flood in parts of the state.
According to a post on the official Facebook page of the amnesty office, Major General Barry Ndiomu, the Interim Administrator of the programme, while presenting the items in Port Harcourt, said the gesture was to assist in providing immediate remedial attention to those impacted by the flood.
Ndiomu, who was represented by his Special Assistant on Special Duties, Freston Akpor, said the PAP is also planning a post-flood initiative for the affected communities.
Akpor said: “Communities are impacted by the flood in the Niger Delta with houses submerged, farmlands destroyed and lives lost being a son of the soil, he felt he should complement ongoing efforts to ameliorate the plight of the people.
“Here we are to provide some relief materials as palliatives to give immediate remedial attention to the people impacted.
“These are foods we consider instant that people can use within this trying period and it is our hope that the materials will get to those who genuinely need them.”
The PAP boss disclosed that the amnesty programme is also looking at a post-flood period during which several challenges may emerge as the receding water brings with it the attendant issues of water-borne diseases and malaria.
According to him, the plan is to undertake a second phase which will be more expansive following a needs assessment.
Receiving the materials, the Chairman of Rivers State Taskforce on Flood Management, Dr. George Nweke, thanked Ndiomu for his benevolence.
Nweke, who was represented by the Director of Administration, Rivers State Ministry of Special Duties, Mrs. Fortune Akpila, said the state government will continue to appreciate contributions from government and private organizations toward assisting in ameliorating the plight of flood victims in the state.
Meanwhile, the food items included; 300 cartons of noodles, 40 pieces of 50 kilogrammes bags of rice, and 30 bags of 100 kilogrammes of garri.
The interim administrator has earlier said this is part of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
