Awgu communal clash victims benefit from NEMA

March 28, 2007

The items distributed to the victims include one hundred bags of rice, beans, garri, and maize each; five hundred pieces of wax paints, five hundred pieces of blankets, six hundred bundles of roofing sheets and three thousand pieces of planks. Others are 50 packets of zinc nails, 50 bags of nail and six hundred bags of cement

Speaking while distributing the items to the thirty-four families affected during the crisis, the Director General of the Agency, Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Audu-Bide (rtd) said that the materials were federal government's contributions towards assisting the families repair their damaged houses and start life again.

Air Vice Marshal Audu-Bide who was represented at the occasion by the Deputy Director South-East Zone office of the Agency, Mr. Bandele Onimode made it clear that government gesture was not compensation but assistance to cushion the effect of the crisis on the victims.

"The relief materials came from the federal government in response to the report from the Enugu State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to victims of communal clash at Mgbowo in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State... the federal government is not paying you compensation, we are only assisting you to get back to life as soon as possible", he said.

He advised the recipients not to sell any of the items/materials but to share them among those who are victims of the clash and in need of them.

Earlier in his remarks, the Executive Secretary Enugu State Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Innocent Enejere thanked the federal government for the relief materials and described the gesture as a demonstration of government commitment and concern for the victims and their welfare.

He reminded them that the materials should not be found in the open market, but encouraged them to extend such to the less privileged, adding that government will not take it kindly with any body found in such act.

"I have to tell the Mgbowo people that the materials are not for sale. As you can see, if you feel that the quantity given to you is so much, you can give to your neighbours, ... if you think that the quality given to you is perishable and more than enough for you, give to the less privileged instead of selling htem," he said.

Responding on behalf of the people, Dr. Joseph Akpa expressed gratitude to federal government through NEMA for coming to their assistance, describing it as a show of love and interest in their upkeep and welfare.

Dr Akpa used the occasion to solicit more assistance from both the federal and state governments and also well-meaning Nigerians since the weight of the damage caused by the crisis was heavy on the people.

He appealed to the state government to kindly release its white paper on the crisis to help determine government policy on what happened at Mgbowo, adding that it was only such document that would bring back peace and sanity in the area again.

The Traditional Ruler of Ekpulato community, Igwe Victor Azih in his speech thanked both governments for their kind gesture, noting that it would go along way in alleviating their suffering.