The Nigerian Red Cross Society has expressed its alarm over the increasing frequency of floods and other disasters in the country, declaring that despite having a substantial number of volunteers, they are overwhelmed and in urgent need of additional resources. Prince Oluyemisi Adeaga, President of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, made this statement during the 2024 annual fundraising and gala night held in Lagos on Saturday.
Adeaga revealed that the society currently has over 800,000 volunteers across all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), but this number is insufficient to meet the growing humanitarian challenges faced daily. “When we distribute these volunteers across the states, we fall short of the capacity needed to effectively address these challenges,” he explained.
He highlighted that while Borno State is often the focal point for disaster response, numerous other states are also suffering from severe flooding. Adeaga called on individuals and organizations to join forces with the Nigerian Red Cross, emphasizing that the effort to help others does not always require financial resources. “It doesn’t take money to do good,” he stated.
The president detailed the extensive humanitarian issues in various regions, including Maiduguri, Zamfara, Niger, and Osun, noting the pressing need for both human and infrastructural resources to alleviate suffering. “We are overwhelmed. There are too many tasks to do,” he lamented.
Karsten Voigt, Country Manager of the British Red Cross, echoed Adeaga’s sentiments, highlighting the challenging conditions under which the Nigerian Red Cross operates. He urged everyone to support the society and emphasized the importance of implementing preventive measures to mitigate future disasters.
