The NAF in a statement by its Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said the distribution of the relief materials is in line with its constitutional mandate of providing aid to civil authority.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has announced that it has commenced the airlift of relief materials to riverine communities ravaged by floods in Bayelsa State.
The NAF in a statement by its Director of Public Relations and Information, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, said the distribution of the relief materials is in line with its constitutional mandate of providing aid to civil authority.
Gabkwet stated that the relief materials which were airlifted from Enugu State to Igbogenne community in Bayelsa State via Port Harcourt are intended to be redistributed to other riverine communities adversely affected by the recent flooding in the State.
“The airlift of the relief materials also aligns with the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao’s directive to all operational units and commanders to ensure they provide the necessary assistance required by all government agencies towards alleviating the sufferings of Nigerians affected by this year’s unprecedented flooding in some parts of the country.
“The relief materials were airlifted by the C-130 aircraft from Enugu to Port Harcourt and subsequently ferried to Igbogenne in Bayelsa State using the Mi-35M and EC-135 helicopters where it was then redistributed to affected communities and villages,” he said.
The NAF spokesperson noted that more relief materials are expected to be airlifted in the coming days from other parts of Nigeria to affected flooded communities in Bayelsa State and other States in the country.
“The NAF has a long history of providing aids in form of airlift to civil authorities. Recall that 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.
“Also, in April 2020, the NAF airlifted medical equipment and supplies donated by the Turkish government from Lagos to Abuja. Additionally, in March 2021, the NAF airlifted Covid-19 medical relief materials donated by the Economic Community of West Africa States,” he added.
The Bayelsa State government on Saturday said that “no fewer than 300 communities and villages have either been totally or partially submerged by flooding in the state.”
The state government through the Commissioner for Environment and chairman of the state Task Force on Flood Mitigation and Management, Iselema Gbaranbiri, further announced that “about 700,000 persons have either been displaced or affected by the flood.”
This is a story of communities across no fewer than seven local government areas including Sagbama, Ekeremor, Southern Ijaw, Ogbia, Yenagoa, Nembe and Kolokuma Opokum