Beneficiaries of Special National Economic Livelihood Emergency Intervention (SNELEI) have commended the Federal Government for the relief materials given to them as a result of 2022 flooding.
They gave the commendation on Thursday, when the Monitoring and Evaluation Team led by Mr Abdulkadir Ibrahim, visited Uyo to assess the impacts of the programme on beneficiaries in the state.
The beneficiaries, specifically thanked President Bola Tinubu, and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for the gesture, which they said had impacted their lives positively.
Madam Mary Udo, one of the beneficiaries, who received grinding machine, said she made an average of N3, 000 daily from the machine.
Udo, a widow from Ikot Aduot in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area (LGA), said that the grinding machine had helped her to take care of her children, which could hardly feed before.
The mother of five thanked the Federal Government for coming to her rescue in times of difficulties.
Another beneficiary, Mr Ndifeke Udo, who received sewing machine also lauded the Federal Government for coming up with the programme to assist the less privileged and those affected by disaster.
Udo said the sewing machine had added value to his life, as he could sew clothes for himself and for others to make money.
Another beneficiary, who benefited from non-food items, Miss Mary Dennis, from Uyo LGA thanked NEMA for the materials received during period.
“My house was flooded and all my things were spoilt but the Federal Government came to my aid by giving me mattress, blanket, mat, stove and bucket. I thank them for the gesture” she said.
Mr Monday Umo, also a beneficiary, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for the support given him during the period.
He said that the impact of the flood on him and his household was monumental as it left the family without food to feed on.
Umo said he received bags of rice, beans, garri, vegetable oil, salt, maggi and detergents among other items through the programme.
Speaking after the exercise, Mr Abdulkari Ibrahim, Assistant Chief Information Officer, NEMA, said that the 2022 flooding affected 17 out of 31 local government areas of the state.
Ibrahim said that the beneficiaries were enumerated within the 17 high risk LGAs.
“We are here on monitoring and evaluation for beneficiaries of SNELEI for victims of flood and vulnerable persons across the country.
“For the first batch, about 1, 585 households were covered in the first batch, while we are expecting to have about 3, 000 households in the second batch coming up very soon this month.
“About 7, 000 households are expected to benefit from this programme in Akwa Ibom State.
“We have done over 80 per cent of the distribution, so the second phase of distribution would be done immediately,” he said.
Source: News Agency of Nigeria
