Rivers Begins N200,000 Direct Payments to Flood-Affected Families

RIVERS, Nigeria – The Rivers State Government has begun transferring N200,000 directly to verified flood-affected families as part of measures to provide immediate relief to communities affected by flooding.

The Deputy Governor and Chairman of the State Flood Prevention and Management Committee, Prof. Ngozi Odu, disclosed this on Friday while addressing flood victims from Rukpokwu in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area at Government House, Port Harcourt.

Odu said flooding had severely affected parts of Obio/Akpor and Port Harcourt City, with some residents forced to use canoes to access their homes.

She said Governor Siminalayi Fubara had directed the committee to intensify relief efforts in the worst-affected communities through the distribution of food, non-food items and direct financial assistance. “We have been sending trucks of food and non-food items. For each movement, three trucks go to an LGA, and we send more than three trucks to LGAs marked with red flags,” she said.

Odu said the government had opted for direct transfers to reduce the involvement of third parties in the distribution of financial assistance. “We are funding families directly to eliminate third parties. In this phase, because many people are affected, we are transferring N200,000 per family directly into their verified bank accounts,” she said.

She added that the state was clearing waterways and blocked drainage channels as part of efforts to reduce the impact of rising floodwaters.

Beyond the immediate relief measures, Odu said the government was developing long-term engineering solutions to redirect floodwaters into designated canals.

The deputy governor also said residents affected by the floods who required medical attention would receive free healthcare through the Rivers State Contributory Health Protection Programme.

She appealed to the National Emergency Management Agency and other federal agencies to provide additional support to affected communities.

About the Author

Korede Abdullah

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Korede Abdullah is Southwest Correspondent for Africa Health Report, particularly focusing on health and development news. He has covered significant health-related stories and business to social issues, indicating a broad range of interests and expertise. He is a dedicated and versatile journalist contributing to informed discourse in Nigeria.

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