The Member representing Ikwuano State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Boniface Isieyi, has presented relief materials worth thousands of naira to residents of Nkalunta in Ibere Community, Ikwuano Local Government Area, following the devastating flood that recently ravaged the community.
Presenting the food palliatives to the affected residents, Hon. Isieyi said the visit was aimed at sympathising with the victims and assuring them of the government’s commitment to improving their livelihood.
He also assured the community that attention would be given to the construction of the road linking the community, which, according to him, has already been awarded by the state government.
The lawmaker noted that although no amount of food items could completely address the challenges caused by the flood, the gesture would help cushion the effects of the disaster on the affected families.
He further disclosed that efforts were already underway towards the construction of the road, stressing that the government remained committed to addressing the infrastructural challenges confronting the community.
Earlier in his remarks, the Deputy General Manager of the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA), Catechist Ambrose Jonah, described the administration of Governor Alex Otti as a people-oriented government committed to responding to the needs of the people.
Catechist Jonah said their presence in the community was borne out of brotherhood and a sense of responsibility to rally around the people, irrespective of political affiliation.
He described the flood as a natural disaster and expressed gratitude to God that no life was lost in the incident.
According to him, the palliative was provided to help ameliorate the devastating effects of the flood on the affected residents.
Jonah noted that while the disaster had caused significant damage to property, crops and other means of livelihood, the situation would have been more devastating if lives had also been lost.
In their separate remarks, the Deputy Mayor of Ikwuano Local Government, Hon. Awuwa Lucky; the Secretary to Ikwuano Local Government, Hon. Ahamefula Collins; and the Director of Innocent Eleogu Care Foundation, Prince Innocent Eleogu, among other personalities, commiserated with the affected residents.
They said the flood had severely affected the community, explaining that the overflow of the river bank resulted in the destruction of crops and animals, while some buildings and other structures were also affected.
The stakeholders acknowledged that the relief materials could not completely solve the problems caused by the disaster but said the intervention would provide temporary relief to the affected residents and help them cope with the aftermath of the flood.
They also stressed that the intervention was not politically motivated but rather a demonstration of love, solidarity and sympathy with the people during a difficult period.
The stakeholders assured the residents that relevant government authorities would give prompt attention to the construction of the road, which they said remained critical to the development and accessibility of the community.
