The Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS), in collaboration with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), on Saturday distributed relief materials to 300 flood victims in Oyo State.
The relief materials were for victims of the 2022 flooding in Egbeda and Ibadan South-East Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.
The National President of NRCS, Prince Oluyemisi Adeaga, called on governments at all levels to intensify training in first aid and rescue operations to ensure prompt and effective responses to disasters.
Adeaga said while the government had been responsive enough to disasters, more still needed to be done.
“The government is doing a lot, but people need those around them to respond promptly and professionally when disasters occur.
“This is to ensure that those trying to help do not cause further harm,” he said.
Adeaga, therefore, emphasised the need for resident training in emergency management.
Meanwhile, the Project Coordinator of ECOWAS, Dauda Mohammed, reiterated the organisation’s commitment to improving the lives of the common people.
He said ECOWAS selected 3,500 vulnerable households across Adamawa, Anambra, Kebbi, Rivers, Kogi, and Oyo States and that more initiatives would soon be implemented.
The Oyo State Branch Chairman of NRCS, Mr Babalola Famade, noted the need for more people to join the organisation to minimise damage done to disaster victims.
Speaking on behalf of co-beneficiaries, Mr Sakiru Olatinwo, expressed gratitude for what he described as a “timely help”, considering the current national economic situation.
The beneficiaries were each given a credit card worth N90,000, distributed as N30,000 over three months.
Food items, such as 12 Kilogrammes of beans, 25 Kilogrammes of rice, 15 Kilogrammes of garri, five litres of vegetable oil and five litres of palm oil were also donated.