NAF airlifts relief materials to flooded Bayelsa communities

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has commenced the airlift of relief materials to riverine communities affected by the recent flooding in Bayelsa.

Edward Gabkwet, NAF’s spokesman, on Tuesday said the relief materials were airlifted by the C-130 aircraft from Enugu to Port Harcourt.

He said the materials were subsequently ferried to Igbogenne in Bayelsa using the Mi-35M and EC-135 helicopters.

According to him, the development aligns with the directive of Oladayo Amao, chief of air staff, who had asked NAF to provide necessary assistance required by all government agencies towards alleviating the sufferings of persons affected by this year’s flooding.

More relief materials, he said, are expected to be airlifted in the coming days to other states in the country.

Nigeria is currently witnessing flooding that is said to be the worst in decades with over 600 deaths and millions of persons displaced.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had earlier warned that the excess water released in Cameroon from the Lagdo dam would cause heavy flooding in 13 states.

Currently, the floods have affected 34 out of the 36 states in the country with Benue, Kogi, Bayelsa, Delta, Anambra, and Kano being the worst-hit.

As efforts to curb disasters, President Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday, issued a 90-day ultimatum to Suleiman Adamu, minister of water resources, to work with the ministries of environment and transportation to develop an action plan for flood prevention.

NAF has a history of airlifting relief materials in times of emergency.

In March 2020, the NAF airlifted medical materials donated by the Jack Ma foundation consisting of 107 boxes of medical supplies and equipment weighing over 1,360kg to required states.

Also, in April 2020, the NAF airlifted medical equipment and supplies donated by the Turkish government from Lagos to Abuja.

Additionally, in March 2021, NAF airlifted COVID-19 medical relief materials donated by the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) to states in need.