Nasarawa State Government has begun the distribution of relief materials to people affected by flood in three communities in Nasarawa Eggon and Akwanga Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.

Mr. Allumaga Zakari, the Executive Secretary, Nasarawa State Emergency Management Agency (NASEMA) said this in an interview with newsmen on Monday in Lafia.

According to Zakari, the gesture is to cushion the hardship occasioned by the flood.

He listed the communities that had been ravaged by the flood to include Wakama and Gbunka, as well as Ola Hospital and College, which was submerged and their structures destroyed.

“In view of this, the state government has distributed relief materials ranging from bundles of zinc, timbers, bags of cement, nails, and ceiling boards, among others to enable them to reconstruct their homes.

“For those who lost their fishing equipment to flood, the state government has approved money to buy new ones.

“We are expected to do the same to the flood victims in Keffi soon, a lot of resources have been committed to assisting disasters victims,” he said.

NASEMA boss said the state government was committed to mitigating the impact of flood, adding that it had embarked on aggressive sensitization early in the year.

According to the executive secretary, the agency has done a lot in line with the constitutional mandate as provided for by the law establishing it to manage natural and human-related induced disasters.

Zakari said the agency began the year by sensitizing people residing in flood-prone areas to relocate immediately after the rains began.

He said that in addition to that, the agency also inaugurated the Local Emergency Management Agency (LEMA) in all the 13 LGAs of the state.

“Branches of LEMA comprise all traditional rulers, officials of LGAs, Red Cross, Fire Service, Civil Defence, state Ministries of Information, Health, Agriculture Environment, and Water Resources, with a charge to sensitize their people.’’

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Zakari said the agency had also procured five boats and given them to five local governments along the River Benue, for the purpose of evacuation in the event of a flood.

Zakari commended Gov. Abdullahi Sule for his prompt response and release of funds for disasters management and appealed to residents to keep off flood-prone areas and other disasters sites.