One year after floods displaced hundreds of families across Jigawa, the Federal Government has returned to 610 of the victims with relief materials. The materials were distributed in conjunction with the Jigawa State Government.

The distribution coincided with the end of the 2026 rainy season.

It also marks a second round of intervention after the initial emergency response by the state government through the State Emergency Management Agency.

PUNCH Online observed that the exercise was monitored by officials from the National Emergency Management Agency, SEMA and representatives of security agencies in the state.

Flagging off the distribution virtually on Saturday at the Warwade camp for internally displaced persons in Dutse, the Commissioner for Special Duties, Auwal Sankara, expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu.

“This delivery is a classical example of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s caring, love and compassion for the people of Jigawa State,” Sankara said.

He recalled that when the flood occurred last year, SEMA responded within days to support hundreds of victims.

“That intervention included over 11,000 bags of 10kg and 25kg of rice, beans and maize, cash and other food items,” the commissioner said.

“Also, agricultural inputs were distributed, including improved seeds that can help them to get another harvest and strengthen their food security,” he added.

According to him, the President approved additional intervention through NEMA to mitigate the impact of the disaster and improve the livelihoods of affected residents.

Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of SEMA, Hannafi Yakubu, described the exercise as timely and well-targeted.

Responding to questions from a PUNCH correspondent on whether the distribution was politically motivated ahead of elections, Yakubu dismissed the claim.

“There is no politics in this. This is purely humanitarian assistance approved long ago to complement what the state already did,” Yakubu said.

He said the current round targeted about 610 verified victims drawn from the most affected communities in the state.

The executive secretary said: “In this second phase, victims who were omitted in the first exercise were recaptured and supported across flood-affected Local Government Areas in the state.

“The relief package included 500 bags of 25kg rice, cartons of spaghetti and vegetable oil, mattresses, blankets, pumping machines, grinding and sewing machines, and cargo tricycles,” he said.

Some of the beneficiaries who spoke to PUNCH at the camp expressed gratitude for the support.

Audu Garba of Auyo LGA said, “We thank the Federal and Jigawa State Government. This rice and mattress will help my family greatly after what we lost.”

Fatima Sule from Hadejia said, “I was not captured last year. Today I have received a sewing machine. I can now start my business again.”

Another beneficiary, Ibrahim Musa of Dutse, said, “The pumping machine I received will help me return to my farm. We are grateful to President Tinubu and Governor Namadi.”

Our correspondent reports that during the event, officials from NEMA, SEMA, EFCC, ICPC, Red Cross, DSS, the Police and NSCDC jointly supervised the distribution.