Flood victims in the riverine areas of Anambra State have accused the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) of misappropriating relief materials and agricultural seedlings meant for farmers in this year’s planting season. They also alleged that seedlings such as rice, yam and cassava provided by the Federal Government as assistance had been stolen from where they were kept, adding that the seedlings were not the correct species for the farmers. The traditional ruler of Mkpu Nnando, Aguleri, Otu, Igwe Alex Edozieuno, said this yesterday while addressing journalists in Awka.

He said: “We want to register our unhappiness over the activities of NEMA and its relevant committee in the manner seedlings for 2019 agricultural year were distributed to us towards the end of the season. “We expected that the agency should have provided the funds for us to go and buy the type of rice, cassava and yam seedlings that we use in our farmlands. “These are materials meant for victims of 2018 flood disaster in our area and what they brought is not for our farmlands. In the case of rice seedlings we use Hiri (5), Hiri (8) Faro 14/16, but they brought old rice that we do not cultivate.

“We have Ekpe rice for January planting, Adaka rice for month of March, Nwakoko yam and we do not plant yas in the month of June.” Edozieuno, who is also the chairman of Anambra East Traditional Rulers Council, noted that communities such as Mkpu Nnado Otu, Ezi Agulu Otu and Enugwu Otu were badly affected by what they called a day light fraud against honest formers in the area. (New Telegraph)