Three days after devastating floods swept through several communities in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State, victims at makeshift camps are voicing profound dissatisfaction over the handling of relief efforts.
Also read: Mokwa flood: 2 more bodies recovered, death toll reaches 153
A visit to the affected communities by a correspondent revealed widespread frustration and disappointment, particularly concerning the scarcity of adequate food supplies and the deplorable conditions within the temporary shelters.
Many displaced residents lamented that despite being photographed with food items by authorities and relief personnel, they were often not given the promised supplies.
Mama Isah, one of the victims, expressed her anguish: ‘We are 17 people in my household, but we were only given one loaf of bread and some tea. How can that be enough for even our breakfast’?
She passionately appealed to the government to permit well-meaning individuals and organisations to support them directly, without interference or diversion of aid.
Rukaiya Usman, another victim, echoed similar concerns, criticising the meagre quantity of food being distributed. “We are barely surviving. The food they bring is not enough for any family. We feel forgotten,” she stated.
Beyond severe food shortages, the condition of the camps has also come under intense scrutiny. Hussaini Muhammed, a community volunteer, described the camps as ‘unsuitable for human habitation’.
He highlighted critical deficiencies: ‘There are no toilet facilities, and we don’t have access to clean drinking water. People are getting sick’.
Ibrahim Abubakar, another volunteer, noted the complete absence of major emergency response agencies, including the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), at Kpege Primary School, which serves as one of the main shelters.
‘NEMA, NSEMA, and other authorities are nowhere to be found. Everything here is being done by members of the community’, he alleged.
On the healthcare front, Victoria Abubakar, a health volunteer, confirmed that all medical assistance and supplies provided to flood victims are sourced solely through personal and community efforts.
‘We are giving out drugs and attending to sick victims out of goodwill. None of this is coming from the government’, she asserted.
In response to the mounting complaints, Ahmed Ketso, former Deputy Governor of Niger State, urged both the federal and state governments to intensify efforts and collaborate more effectively to alleviate the suffering of the flood victims.
Reacting to the serious allegations, the Acting Director General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Hussaini Ibrahim, acknowledged the existing gaps in the relief operations.
“The challenges we are facing are partly due to the absence of a conventional camp,” he explained.
He added that the agency is currently undertaking a comprehensive data-capturing exercise to accurately identify real victims and ensure that relief materials reach the intended recipients.
“We are working to ensure that the right people get what they deserve. This process takes time, but we are committed to transparency and fairness,” he concluded.
As the victims await adequate relief and support, the call for immediate and coordinated government intervention continues to grow louder in the wake of a disaster that has tragically claimed at least 153 lives and displaced over 3,000 individuals, according to recent reports from NSEMA.
