Flood: Nigeria receives 50 tonnes of relief materials from UAE

Published

2 years ago

September 17, 2024

The aid is to support internally displaced persons affected by the flood disaster in parts of the country.

The reports have it that the relief items arrived at the Cargo wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at about 2.40 pm.

The items were received by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and the Office of the National Security Adviser to the President (NSA).

The UAE Ambassador, Salem Alshamsi, presented the relief items to the Nigerian government.

Alshamsi said that the donation was in line with the UAE’s gesture to support countries affected by natural disasters.

He said that the donation was done at the directive of the President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohamed Al Nahyan, to cushion the effect of the hardship caused by the floods.

“This urgent humanitarian aid of 50 tonnes of basic supplies has been provided to our friendly people of Nigeria, to support areas affected by the recent floods.

“The UAE, as usual, is always helping nations affected by natural disasters. So we are happy to be here,” Alshamsi said.

Receiving the items, Dr Ahmed Dunoma, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, commended the government and people of UAE for supporting Nigeria at this crucial time.

Dunoma described the donation as unprecedented, adding that it showed the kind of excellent relationship Nigeria had with the UAE.

“We want to seize this opportunity on behalf of Mr President to convey the appreciation of the Nigerian government and her people, to the President and the people of UAE.

“We believe that this will go a long way in ameliorating the sufferings of the people affected by this recent flood,” he said.

Dunoma said that the items would be distributed to Nigerians affected by the floods.

The Director-General of NEMA, Mrs Zubaida Umar, said that the relief materials would immediately be distributed to Borno and other states affected by the flood, once cleared.

“This does not only symbolize our partnership but also support at this dire time when so many areas of Nigeria have been flooded.

“It could not have come at a better time.

“I want to assure Nigerians that once we take custody of these items, they will be shared accordingly with those affected by the flood. That is an assurance.

“This will not only stop in Maiduguri. As of yesterday, parts of Enugu State were also being flooded. So we are going to target all areas, even Kaduna was slightly flooded two days ago.

“So we are going to target the whole country. I am sure that is what the government of UAE also wants us to do,” she said.

According to NEMA, 29 states and 172 local government areas have been hit by flooding, affecting 1,048,312 people, displacing 625,239, and resulting in 259 deaths between April to September 2024

NAN

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Musawa Seeks Broader Significance for June 12

Published

1 hour ago

October 3, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa, Esq., says June 12 must be remembered as a sacrifice that gave Nigerians democracy, beyond its status as a public holiday.

In a statement signed on Saturday by the Senior Assistant Media & Publicity to the Honourable Minister,Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy Dr Nneka Ikem Anibeze Ph.D in Abuja.

Musawa stated this at the national premiere of “MKO”, a film on Chief Moshood Abiola, held at the Wole Soyinka Centre for Culture and Creative Arts, Lagos, to mark Nigeria’s 66th Independence Anniversary.

She said 33 years after June 12, 1993, many young Nigerians know it only as a holiday, but the film turns it back into memory.

“For too many young Nigerians, June 12 is simply a public holiday. This film tells them that our democracy did not arrive by chance. It was fought for. It was defended. It was paid for. This documentary is in honour of the heroes of June 12, the men and women who gave their lives for the mandate of June 12, 1993 and for the democracy Nigeria enjoys today,” the Minister said.

Musawa hailed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Chief Host, for his participation in the June 12 struggle and paying the price in exile, adding that Nigeria’s creative industry will keep telling the story of its democracy with courage.

“Through film and the creative economy, Nigeria will preserve its history. A nation that forgets its past loses its way to the future. Nigeria has a story and our story deserves to be told,” she said.

Earlier, the director of the investigative documentary, Ose Oyamendan, said the film was in honour and memory of heroes who fought for Nigeria’s democracy.

“There was Hope ’93 and now there is Renewed Hope. There was a man who sacrificed his life so we may have democracy and there is a man who almost lost his life fighting for democracy who is now helping build a lasting democracy.

“There was a great man called Bashorun MKO Abiola and there is now another great man called Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Democrats. Nationalists. Nation builders. Leaders of men and women. We must never forget our story. We must always honour and remember our heroes,” Oyamendan said.

Top government officials including President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the wife of the President Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Speaker of the House of Representatives Tajudeen Abbas, Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Chief of Staff to the President Rt. Femi Gbajabiamila, state Governors, members of the National Assembly, Ministers and other distinguished dignitaries attended the premiere.

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