Air-force airlifts relief materials to flooded areas in Bayelsa

Nigerian Air Force, NAF, has commenced airlifting of relief materials to riverine communities in Bayelsa State affected by the recent flooding.

Disclosing this on Tuesday in a statement, Air Commodore Edward Gabkwet, NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, said the relief materials, which were airlifted from Enugu State to Igbogenne community in Bayelsa State via Port Harcourt, are intended to be redistributed to other riverine communities adversely affected by the recent flooding in the state.

The statement added that the relief materials were airlifted by the C-130 aircraft and subsequently ferried to Igbogenne in Bayelsa State, using the Mi-35M and EC-135 helicopters where it was then redistributed to affected communities and villages.

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“In line with its constitutional mandate of providing aid to civil authority, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has commenced the airlift of relief materials to riverine communities in Bayelsa State affected by the recent flooding.

“The airlift of the relief materials also aligns with the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal Oladayo Amao’s directive to all operational units and commanders to ensure they provide the necessary assistance required by all government agencies towards alleviating the sufferings of Nigerians affected by this year’s unprecedented flooding in some parts of the country.

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“More relief materials are expected to be airlifted in the coming days from other parts of the country to affected flooded communities in Bayelsa State and other States in the country,” the statement added.

Nigerian Air Force has a long history of providing aid in form of airlift to civil authorities.

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It would be recall that in March 2020, the NAF airlifted medical materials donated by the Jack Ma foundation consisting of 107 boxes of medical supplies and equipment weighing over 1,360kg.

Similarly, in April 2020, the NAF airlifted medical equipment and supplies donated by the Turkish government from Lagos to Abuja. Additionally, in March 2021, the NAF airlifted Covid-19 medical relief materials donated by the Economic Community of West Africa States, ECOWAS.