NIMASA: Making Life Meaningful for Flood Victims
‘Send Down the Rain’ is a tune from Nigeria’s music legend, Majek Fashek. It was a popular song that reigned in its time, over three decades ago, precisely in 1987. It was popular for a number of reasons. Rain means so much for every nation, but so much important for Africans, Nigerians in particular without which they can hardly have food on their tables. The farmers in most villages across the country need rain to be able to have bountiful harvests. No farmer can start any season without first experiencing the first, second and more rains. So, when it is delayed as it often happens in some villages, Majek’s beautiful tune becomes very relevant as the farmers would earnestly be praying to God to ‘send down the rain’. However, too much rain spoils the joy of the people. It destroys farms and homes when it turns to flood. And this is exactly what it has done this year and last year and some other times in many parts of Nigeria.
States Ravaged by Flood
In the past few months and last year, there were reports of flood disasters in many states in Nigeria. In the affected areas, victims have had their homes and farms destroyed. In most cases, the affected state governments were faced with the task of providing emergency shelters under the name of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). The biggest burden of these IDPs remains the logistics of taking care of different people there, including the sick. Most times, the victims are in their hundreds in each state. This means a lot of financial burden for the states who have had to also call for assistance from the federal government, its agencies , international organizations and other well meaning Nigerians. In the past few months and last year no fewer than 20 states in the six geo-political zones were reported to have suffered such flood disaster . Some of the states include Lagos, Sokoto, Anambra, Taraba, Osun, Delta, Cross River, Ogun, Bayelsa and Ondo.
Intervention by Donors
With reports of the disaster, some Nigerians, including agencies of government have had to intervene. Such intervention complemented the efforts of the home states in caring for the flood victims. The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is among the agencies of the government that has so far given a helping hand to the victims this year. NIMASA had also last year donated relief materials to victims of floods and insurgency in 11 states of the federation. This year NIMASA identified 20 states where it will intervene in terms of donations to victims of flood, insurgency and other natural disaster.
At a flag off exercise which began with Lagos State in April, the agency donated food items, clothing materials, beddings, toiletries, wheel chairs, and baby food, among other household items to flood victims. The Director General of the Agency, Dr. Dakuku Peterside, explained that the gesture was in line with NIMASA’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme. Dakuku said the programme was designed to touch the lives of people, especially the indigent and displaced persons, and change their stories. The DG who was represented by the Director, Special Duties (External Relations and Technical Cooperation), Hajia Lami Tumaka, further explained that NIMASA had decided to identify with victims of natural and other disasters living in the camp in Lagos as a way of giving them a sense of belonging.
He told the displaced persons during the visit, “We have come here to identify with you and to share in your trying moments. Let me assure you that it will not be for long, as the government is aware of the challenges you are going through and is doing everything possible to get you properly resettled in order to lead normal lives again.
“As a socially responsible corporate entity, we are concerned with your wellbeing and we remain committed to partnering with the Lagos State Government to ameliorate your challenges.”
The General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Mr. Adesina Tiamiyu, apparently happy about the donation commended the agency for being consistent and a worthy partner in the effort to support IDPs in the state.
Tiamiyu said, “NIMASA has remained a worthy partner and we call on other agencies, corporate bodies, and individuals to emulate this gesture so that in no distant time the IDPs can be resettled in their homes and continue with their normal lives and activities.
“I recall that last year, NIMASA also brought a lot of relief materials to victims of flood disaster. So on behalf of the government of Lagos State and, indeed, the displaced Lagosians, I say, thank you to Dr. Dakuku Peterside and the Management of NIMASA.”
Tiamiyu said the Lagos State Government will continue to partner with the agency in the attempt to assist and resettle all victims of disaster in the state.
In Kano State, the donation was for the victims of the 2018 flood disaster that submerged some parts of the State. The DG who was re presented by the Deputy Director and Head of Financial Services, Mrs Olamide Odusanya said NIMASA has always been interested in the pursuit of improvement of welfare of Nigerians. The Kano State Executive Secretary of the state Emergency Management Agency, Alhaji Ali Bashir Nikkel, who received the materials on behalf of the state government commended the agency for the good gesture. Nikkel said the items were timely for the welfare of the victims.
He said, “the State Government is ever grateful by this kind of gesture and would not be forgotten in a hurry”. He called on other government agencies and corporate organizations to emulate the footsteps of NIMASA by coming to the aid of the state government.
“We call on well-meaning Nigerians also and corporate institutions to emulate NIMASA. We assure that the items donated would be judiciously distributed to the affected persons with the aim of alleviating their suffering”, he said. Among the items donated to Kano flood victims were rice, corn, mattresses, sugar, salt, dettol, beans, noodles, soap/ detergents, sanitary pad, dippers, mats, blankets, mosquito nets dairy foods, palm/vegetable oil, grinding machines, pumping and sewing machines amongst others.
In Niger state, the Niger State Governor, Dr. Abubakar Sani Bello who was represented by his Deputy, Alhaji Mohammed Ahmed Ketso lauded NIMASA for coming to the assistance of the flood victims.
He said, “we want to appreciate the kind gesture of the relief materials sent by the Director General and Management of NIMASA to the government and people of Niger State to cushion the effect of the flood impacted victims”.
The state governor was particularly happy as NIMASA had in June last year also donated relief materials to victims who were affected by flood in the Suleja axis of the state.
Represented by Hajia Lami Tumaka, Director Special Duties (External Relations and Technical Cooperation), the NIMASA DG commiserated with the families of those who lost loved ones and property and assured of the agency’s preparedness to extend support to Nigerians in distress.
In Ondo State, it was the same expression of joy as representatives of the state government received the gift items from NIMASA’s Director, Western Zonal Office, Mr. Olayemi Abass. Abass told the state government officials that the agency was complying with the Federal Government’s directive for all government organizations to use their powers and resources to alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians affected by flood and other disasters.
The elated Deputy Governor of Ondo State Hon. Agboola Ajayi who received the items was full of commendation for the agency for reaching out to Ondo State.
He said the materials came at a good time as the Ondo State Government was handling the devastating effect of the rain storm that ravaged the Supare and Ikare Akoko areas of the state.
Similarly, in Cross River State, the relief materials were received by the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), The Special Assistant (SA) to the Governor who is also the Ag DG, Cross River State Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Princewil Ayim, thanked the agency for the donation.
Ayim said, “We note and understand the circumstances of our people and we feel their pains. We perfectly know their needs and we are doing everything as a State to make life meaningful for them. We call on well-meaning Nigerians and corporate institutions to emulate NIMASA. We appreciate and commend them and it is our promise that this gesture has been received in the spirit in which it is given”.
The leader of the Bakassi IDP Camp, Mr. Etim Ene, also commended NIMASA for the items donated, adding that the Camp also needed such amenities as portable water and healthcare services.
Observers in the nation’s maritime sector where NIMASA remains the apex agency have also commended the organization for its efforts in reaching out to victims of natural disaster in many parts of the country. Industry stakeholders who spoke on the issue described it as a good development since the agency is doing this without losing focus of its primary statutory responsibility. A shipping agent, Chief Marcus Akaribo said what NIMASA is doing should be emulated by many other organizations particularly multinational companies and other rich organisations for the good of the society. Akaribo said, “CSR is for all major organizations to contribute their quota to community development and well being of citizens where they do business. Apart from NIMASA and other agencies of government, other multinational agencies who are reaping so much in this country should be part of the efforts to salvage victims of disasters or even embark on community development projects”.
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