The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has begun disbursing $906,205 (N1,449,928,000) in aid to Nigerian communities affected by the devastating floods of 2022.
The initiative was announced by ECOWAS in a statement published on its website on Friday, August 2, 2024.
The aid distribution kicked off in Adamawa State, with ECOWAS emphasizing that these relief packages represent a significant step in bolstering humanitarian efforts among member states through impactful, people-focused projects.
Earlier, ECOWAS disclosed that Nigeria’s Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation received a substantial flood assistance fund of $906,205.
This fund is intended to support community resilience and recovery efforts. According to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), 1 US dollar sells at N1,600.86.
In collaboration with the Nigerian Red Cross and the ministry, ECOWAS plans to target 3,500 households in the most affected states: Adamawa, Anambra, Kebbi, Kogi, Oyo, and Rivers.
In Adamawa, a delegation from the ECOWAS Commission, led by Mr. Godfrey Ameachi Alozie, Program Officer for Humanitarian Affairs, conducted food distribution and cash transfers to household beneficiaries. A total of 1,000 households in Adamawa were identified, each receiving N91,500 in addition to food supplies.
“Beneficiaries were selected through a transparent process, ensuring that the most vulnerable households were prioritized,” said Mr. Alozie.
“Each household received a comprehensive relief package, which included 25kg of rice, 15kg of garri, 12kg of beans, 5 liters of palm oil, and 5 liters of vegetable oil. Each household was provided with a debit card loaded with N91,500, with a monthly withdrawal limit of N30,500.
Following the distribution of aid, a borehole was officially launched to improve the community’s access to clean water, further enhancing their resilience and recovery efforts.”
During the ceremony in Adamawa, Mr. Alozie highlighted ECOWAS’s commitment to raising the living standards of citizens in its member states.
He stated that the institution will continue to strengthen Nigeria’s “resilience on the path to recovery with dignity, ensuring that no one is left behind.”
He also announced that ECOWAS would be allocating an additional $2 million for counter-terrorism operations and a stabilization fund.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mr. Abel Enitan, praised the initiative. “The 2022 floods had a devastating impact on most communities across the country, but thanks to the Nigerian government and its partners, especially ECOWAS and the Nigerian Red Cross, substantial progress has been made in addressing the needs of the affected communities. The project has provided food items, multipurpose cash assistance, and boreholes in the selected communities,” Enitan said.
The Executive Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Fintiri, represented by Barrister Bello Diram, stated that the choice of Adamawa State demonstrated ECOWAS’s profound understanding of the region’s needs and potential.
ECOWAS’s contribution is part of a broader effort to help flood-devastated communities. According to a National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) report in 2022, the Nigerian floods of that year, which tragically claimed hundreds of lives, resulted in substantial damages estimated at $9 billion.
However, the cost of the destruction, evaluated in conjunction with the World Bank, was estimated to be between $3.79 billion and $9.12 billion. NBS reported that affected households experienced flooding primarily between September and October 2022 (50.9%), followed by 42.7% recorded in July-August, recommending the implementation of flood risk financing and insurance mechanisms, among other measures.