The Niger State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management has set the record staright on a miscommunication by one of its commissioners when he said the Ministry had delivered a total of 6000 trailers of rice to the Mokwa flood victims in Niger State.

The Ministry?s Director Media and Strategy, Habibu Wushishi, in a statement on Wednesday, said the 6000 trailers of rice declared by the Commissioner, Ahmed Yumu, was ?a slip of the tongue?, clarifying that he was meant to say 6000 bags of rice.

According to the Ministry, Yumu made the statement ?out of shock?, adding that he was ?overwhelmed? by the loss of lives and properties in the incident.

?The attention of the Niger State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management has been drawn to a report on Mokwa flood disaster aired by Channels television where the Hon Commissioner Ahmed Baba Suleiman Yumu made a slip of tongue on allocation of rice to the victims.

?In the report, the Commissioner out of shock and overwhelmed by the loss of lives/properties of the victims and stress in discharging his responsibilities of humanitarian and managing the disaster made a slip of tongue by saying ?6000 trailers of rice? was released for the victims as against ?6000 bags of rice? approved by HE Farmer Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago.

?The said 6000 bags of rice are gradually moved to Mokwa.?

The Ministry apologised for the misinformation.

?It is pertinent to note that we accept full responsibility for the mistake and we most sincerely apologise for such costly error, assuring the victims that it would ensure judicious and equitable distribution of donated relief materials.

?We assure members of the general public and particularly the victims of the flood disaster of the Ministry?s commitment and assurances of judicious and equitable distribution of all relief materials channelled through the Ministry, and we once again extend our heartfelt condolences to families of those who lost their loved ones and properties.

?Once again, we are deeply sorry.? (Channels TV)

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