Nigeria to assist Haiti

Vice President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday expressed condolences to President René Préval and the people of Haiti over the devastating earthquake in the country's capital, Port-au-Prince.

In a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice-President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Ima Niboro, Jonathan expressed Nigeria's sympathy with Haiti, noting that Nigerians shared in the grief of their Haitian brothers and sisters.

He said the international community can count on Nigeria's support on the rebuilding of Haiti.

Also Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Alhaji Jibril Maigari yesterday said Nigeria will donate food items and other relief materials to the people of Haiti who were hit by earthquake.

Maigari told the BBC Hausa service that no Nigerian died in the disaster, adding that the country has been assured by the United Nations that all the 120 Nigerian Police officers serving in the UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti are safe.

Also in a statement issued in Abuja, he said the ministry has been in touch with Nigeria High Commissioner to Jamaica Mr Peter Oyedele who was in Haiti to monitor the situation and confirmed that no Nigerian died in the unfortunate incident.

The minister said Nigeria commiserates with the people of Haiti over the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that claimed over a thousand lives and rendered thousands homeless.

"The Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria expresses its condolences to the President and People of Haiti on the devastating earthquake," the minister said in a statement issued in Abuja.

Meanwhile, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), the World Food Program (WFP) and other United Nations bodies are monitoring the distribution of food and other relief materials to Haitians after the country was devastated earthquake on Tuesday.

FAO said it is "closely monitoring the situation on ground to get a clearer picture on the immediate impacts of food security and food production" as they deal with emergency food aid and nutrition.

Daily Trust