By Abdul Kareem

MAIDUGURI, Nigeria — The North East Development Commission (NEDC) has stepped up relief efforts for flood victims in the northeastern states of Nigeria, distributing 200,000 bags of rice alongside essential supplies.

At a presentation in Maiduguri on Wednesday, Managing Director Mohammed Alkali emphasized the urgency of the relief operation.

“In view of the current massive flooding in Maiduguri caused by the breakdown of Alau Dam, the commission had to act fast,” Alkali said.

The distribution, aimed at six states—Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Gombe, Bauchi, and Taraba—includes 150,000 cartons of spaghetti, 250,000 gallons of vegetable oil, and thousands of mats, blankets, mosquito nets, and clothing items.

“We are releasing 200,000 bags of rice and 150,000 cartons of spaghetti,” Alkali confirmed, highlighting the scale of the intervention.

To ensure fair distribution, lawmakers from both state and national levels are involved. “The commission will use the political structures in the Northeast to distribute the relief materials,” Alkali explained.

Alkali, who recently toured the flood-affected areas, stated that the relief effort is part of the NEDC’s short-term strategy, with plans for medium and long-term interventions also in place. He also addressed concerns about the Alau Dam, revealing that a contract for its renovation had been awarded prior to the floods.

NEDC officials led by the MD, Mohammed Goni Alkali, at the warehouse where the food items where the relief items were presented

“However, with the recent development, the commission will review the contract and re-award it for complete rehabilitation,” he said.

The relief materials were handed over to the state government at the NEDC warehouse in Flour Mills Area, Maiduguri, following the press briefing. The initiative marks a crucial step in aiding communities devastated by the worst flooding since December 1994.