Visiting Vice President Namadi Sambo, heard on Saturday in Shendam, Plateau that residents had resorted to canoes for?transport following the massive floods that hit the area.
“The five major bridges in Plateau south were washed away by the floods and we have resorted to using canoes as our only means of transport,'' Shendam Local Government Chairman, Mr Kemi Nshe, declared.
He was speaking at a ceremony to welcome the Vice President, who had?undertaken an aerial tour of the affected sites before meeting the?victims and community leaders at the Shendam stadium.
Nshe told the Sambo that many roads and farms were also washed away, while many had been rendered homeless by the devastating floods.?
He told the vice president that six varieties of seedlings and water pumping machines had been purchased and distributed to the victims to mitigate food shortages in view of the destruction to farmlands.
“What we are doing is to encourage them to go into dry season farming; we are also encouraging them to go for crops that will soon be harvested so as to be able to feed their families,'' Nashe said.
In his remarks, Gov. Jonah Jang, expressed appreciation at?the deep concern?demonstrated by the Federal Government toward the flood victims and described the gesture as “very encouraging and soothing''.
“Your (vice president's) visit alone is a morale booster; it has strengthened us as a people.
“This visit is even beside the?N500 million already sent to the Plateau Government to cater for the victims.
“I wish to assure you today that the money shall be judiciously expended?to meet the purpose for which it was intended,'' Jang said.?
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Sambo was accompanied by Gov. Tanko Almakura of Nasarawa, NEMA Director-General Ahmed Sidi, Plateau Police Commissioner Emmanuel Ayeni, among many others. (NAN)