By Ayomide Otitoju
The Niger State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management has clarified reports claiming 6,000 trailers of rice were delivered to victims of the Mokwa flood disaster, stating the figure was a “slip of the tongue.”
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Ministry’s Director of Media and Strategy, Habibu Wushishi, the Ministry explained that the Commissioner, Ahmed Baba Suleiman Yumu, had intended to say “6,000 bags of rice” but mistakenly said “6,000 trailers.”
“The attention of the Niger State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management has been drawn to a report aired by Channels Television in which the Commissioner erroneously stated 6,000 trailers of rice were released,” the statement read. “The statement was made out of shock and emotional stress due to the devastating nature of the flood disaster.”
The Ministry offered a formal apology for the error, stressing its commitment to transparency and equitable distribution of relief materials to those affected by the flood.
“We most sincerely apologise for such a costly error and assure all victims and the general public of our resolve to ensure all aid is judiciously and fairly distributed,” the statement concluded.
