UGHELLI/Nigeria: In a major post-disaster intervention, relief materials provided by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and facilitated by Senator Ede Dafinone (APC, Delta Central) have been distributed to victims of the 2025 flood and windstorm disasters across several communities in Delta Central Senatorial District, covering parts of Udu, Ughelli South, Ughelli North and the Sapele axis of Delta State.
The distribution exercise, which began midweek in the Sapele axis before moving to other parts of the district, targeted communities worst hit by the disasters, including Ogbe-Udu, Okwagbe, Ewreni and Uwheru, as well as Vitafoam, Community Road Amukpe, Town Gate Okirigwre, Ojolu, Gana and Orhiakpa.
Beneficiaries received food items and essential household materials such as bags of rice and garri, beans, salt, spaghetti, seasoning cubes, canned tomatoes, vegetable and groundnut oil, mosquito nets, towels and maternity dresses.
Speaking at the Gana distribution point in Sapele, Senator Dafinone, represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Chief Justin Uloho, said the intervention was aimed at easing the hardship of residents whose homes, farmlands and livelihoods were destroyed by the disasters. Uloho praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the release of the relief materials, describing the President as compassionate and responsive to the plight of affected communities.
He added that the senator remained committed to ensuring that federal interventions reached the grassroots, noting that the distribution would extend beyond Sapele to other parts of Delta Central to guarantee wider coverage.
At Ogbe-Udu community in Udu Local Government Area, the senator’s Udu LGA Liaison Officer, Engr. Peter Oputu, said the exercise was a direct federal government response through NEMA, facilitated by Senator Dafinone and aligned with the Delta State Government’s recovery efforts.
“This gesture is to ameliorate the suffering of our people who were affected by the 2022 flood, which destroyed many houses and properties,” Oputu said, while conveying the senator’s appreciation to President Tinubu’s administration for its “continual support to the Urhobo people.”
The intervention attracted commendation from community leaders and political stakeholders. At Evwreni Kingdom, APC chieftain and former President General, Chief Ohare Victor, praised what he described as Senator Dafinone’s “high-quality representation,” expressing gratitude for the timely assistance to flood victims in the kingdom.
Beneficiaries across the communities also expressed appreciation. Mrs. Blessing Ogheneovo said the items would help her family recover from losses suffered during the flood, while Mrs. Thelma described the assistance as timely and relieving. A nursing mother, Mrs. Mary Efe, commended the inclusion of maternity items, saying it showed government’s concern for vulnerable mothers, as Mrs. Gladys Okoro added that the physical presence of officials boosted confidence among the beneficiaries.
The exercise also generated political goodwill. Emoregha Tina, a beneficiary from Ewreni, pledged continued support for the senator ahead of the 2027 general elections, citing the intervention as evidence of effective representation.
In Sapele, the Chief Liaison Officer, Chief Patrick Akamuvba, described the distribution as a reflection of responsive leadership, praising President Tinubu for prioritising disaster response and Senator Dafinone for facilitating federal presence at the grassroots.
NEMA officials from the Benin Zonal Office monitored the distribution across all locations, accompanying the Dafinone team to ensure transparency, proper documentation and orderly delivery of the relief materials.
The intervention underscores sustained federal-legislative collaboration in post-disaster recovery while reinforcing the link between effective representation and grassroots support across Delta Central.
