Survivors of Fire Disasters Get Relief Assistance from Delta State Government
ASABA/Nigeria: Over sixty victims of disasters at various locations in Ika South and Ika North East area of Delta State, have received financial assistance from the state government, including those whose property were damaged during the January 2021 Agbor gas plant explosion.
The State Bureau for Special Duties made this known in Asaba, the state capital, during the presentation of the relief assistance to the victims.
The beneficiaries received up to a million naira each to recover from the disasters
The State Commissioner for Special Duties Mr Johnbull Edema, said the effort was an expression of the commitment of the government to the welfare of those who survived various fire incidents between 2020 and 2021.
“SEMA mobilized and they did due diligence, from there we were able to have this record of persons, sixty and more that have not been attended to.”
A survivor Mr. Chukwuka Sunday, said he would use the money to renovate his damaged building, while another Joy Timothy, who received a million naira noted she would utilize part of the money to settling debts incurred after a challenging time due to the disaster.
“Everything burn to ashes. I wrote to the Delta State Government that fire has gutted my house and after then they came for investigation.”
“Till April I did not see money, before I found a man who helped me. I will take to complete the payment.”
Meanwhile, the Director, State Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Karo Ovemeso, said the government had earlier settled the medical bills of those affected by the fire incidents, prior to the approval of funds for those who survived the disasters.
“They should not be carried away by the volume and start scattering it. I will advise that they should think of what they would use the money for to bring more money for them.”
Notable among the fire incidents in the state in recent times was the explosion at a gas plant in Agbor in January 2021 which damaged houses, farmlands and vehicles leading to the demise of five members of one family among other casualties.