By Samuel Olusegun Precious
Governor Siminalayi Fubara has directed for the provision of more relief materials to flood victims in Rivers State.
Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Rivers State Flood Prevention and Management Committee, Professor Ngozi Nma Odu, disclosed efforts by the State Government to intensify relief efforts for flood victims across the state, with priority given to worst-hit communities.
Prof. Odu stated this on Friday, October 2, 2026, when she received a delegation from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on a courtesy visit to Government House, Port Harcourt.
She said recent floods had affected communities across the state, stressing that the disaster had no regard for political affiliation, social status or ethnicity. According to her, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, upon returning from the United Nations General Assembly in New York and learning of the worsening flood situation, directed the Flood Committee to immediately scale up interventions in affected areas.
She disclosed that the state government has so far deployed trucks loaded with food and non-food items to several Local Government Areas, adding that severely affected communities are receiving additional relief materials.Prof. Odu further revealed that Governor Fubara has also directed the provision of stipends to some flood victims, in addition to food and other relief items.
Prof Odu commended NEMA and its Rivers State team for their prompt response, noting that the agency responded within hours of receiving the distress signal. The Deputy Governor highlighted the integration of the Rivers State Health Insurance Scheme into the flood response, saying affected persons will receive free medical care.
She explained that beneficiaries will be registered and referred to nearby health facilities, while cases requiring specialist attention will be referred to higher-level hospitals, with cost covered under the health insurance intervention. The coverage is expected to run for at least one year.
According to her, the government response is focused not only on immediate relief, food and healthcare, but also on addressing underlying causes of flooding through clearing blocked waterways, improving drainage and preventing obstructions.
“Flood does not know party affiliations,” she said, adding that no affected resident will be left behind.Speaking during the visit, NEMA Director-General, Mrs. Zubaida Abubakar Umar, represented by Director of Search and Rescue, Air Commodore Bature Usman, said the agency was in Rivers to sympathise with the government and affected people.
He said NEMA has commenced assessment of flood-affected communities in collaboration with Rivers State Emergency Management Agency (RSEMA) and other stakeholders, and will reinforce the capacity of RSEMA.He assured that the Federal Government, through NEMA, will continue to collaborate with the state to ensure timely response and provide relief materials to affected communities.
