OWUPELE BENEBO
The 2025 Rivers State Flood Prevention and Management Committee has distributed relief materials to persons with disabilities and non-indigenes residing in the State.
Addressing beneficiaries during the distribution exercise at the Central Medical Stores, Port Harcourt, on Tuesday, 23rd December, 2025, Rivers State Deputy Governor and Chairman of the Committee, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Local Government Affairs, Dr. (Mrs.) Awani Itong, said Governor Siminalayi Fubara, in his magnanimity, understands the plight of persons with special needs and insisted that relief materials must get to them.
According to the Deputy Governor, some persons with disabilities reside in rural communities and may have been adversely affected by the floods, noting that during general distribution of relief materials, such vulnerable groups are sometimes left out. This, she explained, necessitated the targeted distribution of palliatives to persons with special needs.
Prof. Odu further stated that non-indigenes of the State were also identified and given relief materials because the State Chief Executive, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, believes that support should not be limited to indigenes alone, stressing that non-indigenes are also an integral part of Rivers State.
In their separate responses, the Leader of Persons with Disabilities, Kie Obomanu, and Hon. Emmanuel Anya, a representative of non-indigenes in the State, expressed gratitude to the State Governor, his Deputy, and the Flood Committee for the kind gesture.
They assured that the relief items would be equitably distributed among the beneficiaries.