Vincent Ezenagu
The Director General (DG) of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, has flagged off the distribution of 6,000 food baskets donated by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) to vulnerable households in Yobe State.
The flag-off ceremony was held on Thursday, 18th June, 2026, in Damaturu, the Yobe State capital.
Speaking at the event, Mrs. Zubaida Umar described the donation as a demonstration of the strong humanitarian partnership between Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through KSrelief.
She said: “I am delighted to announce that the Centre has donated a total of 24,302 food baskets to be distributed directly to vulnerable persons in Yobe, Benue, Anambra, Kebbi and Taraba States. In Yobe State alone, a total of 6,000 households that have been profiled will receive the food baskets provided by KSrelief under this intervention.
“Similar distributions will also be carried out in Benue, Anambra, Kebbi and Taraba States, thereby extending relief and hope to thousands of vulnerable families across the country.”
The Director General noted that the intervention would provide support to vulnerable households and further strengthen ongoing humanitarian efforts aimed at alleviating hardship among affected populations.
She further stated: “As the rainy season intensifies, it is important to draw attention to the increasing risks of flooding and related disasters across many parts of Nigeria, including communities in Yobe State.
“Communities are encouraged to clear drainage channels, avoid indiscriminate dumping of waste in waterways, relocate from highly flood-prone locations where necessary, and strictly heed early warning advisories issued by relevant authorities. Parents should also ensure that children do not play in flood waters or around erosion-prone areas during heavy rainfall.”
The Director General reiterated that the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, remains committed to improving the welfare of citizens and addressing vulnerabilities arising from disasters, conflicts, climate-related emergencies and economic challenges.
“Humanitarian support such as this significantly complements ongoing national efforts aimed at providing relief and strengthening resilience among vulnerable populations,” she said.
Addressing the beneficiaries, Mrs. Zubaida Umar urged them to make good use of the items being distributed and expressed hope that the intervention would provide relief and comfort to their households during this challenging period.
The Governor of Yobe State, Dr. Mai Mala Buni, who was represented at the occasion by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Mohammed Goje, commended KSrelief for the generous donation and appreciated NEMA for facilitating the intervention. He reaffirmed the commitment of the Yobe State Government to partnering with NEMA and other relevant organisations in promoting effective disaster management, humanitarian assistance and social protection for vulnerable citizens.
Speaking on behalf of KSrelief, the Centre’s representative, Mr. Majeed Alanazi, stated that the donation was in line with the humanitarian mandate of the Centre to provide assistance to vulnerable populations around the world. He noted that the intervention reflects KSrelief’s commitment to humanitarian solidarity and support for the people of Nigeria.
The food baskets will be distributed directly to identified vulnerable households across Yobe State and the other listed states.