Shell pledges $1 million to help flood victims in Niger Delta

Shell Petroleum Company says one million dollars has been committed to support the government's efforts to provide relief to people impacted by the current flood disaster, exclusive of its joint venture partners in Nigeria.

Mrs. Abimbola Essien-Nelson, the Media Relations Manager of Shell, disclosed thisin a statement in Lagos on Wednesday.

According to her, Shell's donation will be used to procure and distribute food and non-food relief materials, as well as medical supplies, to impacted communities hosting Shell operations in the affected states of Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, and Imo.

"Similar to our response in the 2012 flood disaster, staff of Shell companies in Nigeria are also contributing toward a voluntary fund for the purchase of additional relief materials for impacted people."

The Country Chairman, Shell Companies in Nigeria, and Managing Director, the Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC), Mr Osagie Okunbor, was quoted as saying that "we are deeply concerned that the flood waters have further hampered socio-economic activities in the region, exacerbating known vulnerabilities, with women and children most affected."

"We hope that our assistance can help them cope with the impact of this tragedy."

Essien-Nelsonnoted that Shell's support came as the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) announced that the floods continued to have a wide-spread impact across the country.

"NEMA said 29 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory, were affected.