Ebonyi: Jubilation As Gov. Nwifuru Disburses Over N40-million, Food Items to 98 Windstorm Victims

By Nwogha Ndubuisi, Abakaliki

It was a moment of joy as Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru distributed relief material and cash amounting to N48 million naira to ninety eight,(98) victims of windstorm and flood disasters who are residents of Ndieze Inyimagu, and Amegu in Abakaliki Local Government Area, to cushion the impact of the May 27, 2025 tragedy.

Governor Nwifuru, represented by the Commissioner for Human Capital Development and Monitoring, Mrs. Ann Aligwe, flagged off the exercise on Tuesday in Abakaliki where each beneficiary received ₦500,000 cash and two bags of rice. Aligwe said the gesture underscored the governor’s Peoples Charter of Needs commitment to the welfare of all Ebonyi residents.

“Many thought it was a political promise, but today you have seen that His Excellency is a talk-and-do governor. These funds and food items are meant to cushion your losses, and we expect you to use them wisely,” she stated. She recalled that after the disaster, the Ebonyi State Emergency Management Agency (EB-SEMA) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) conducted impact assessments and assured victims of prompt intervention.

The commissioner also led a minute’s silence in honour of Mrs. Theresa Nwaji, who died in the Ndeze Inyimagu windstorm, and eight others recently killed by flooding in Afikpo. She urged residents in disaster-prone areas, particularly riverbanks and lowlands, to relocate in line with early warnings from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).

Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr. Henry Nworie, reaffirmed government’s readiness to respond swiftly to emergencies. Some beneficiaries, including Stephen Nwoji Uguru, Andaline Edeh, and James Ominyi, thanked the state government, NEMA, and EBSMA for the intervention, while appealing for more long-term measures to rebuild their livelihoods and that of their families.