Jonathan okays N17.6b for states
HELP is on the way for flood victims, with the President approving yesterday a committee of eminent citizens to raise funds for their needs.
Dr. Goodluck Jonathan announced yesterday that the Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation will join forces with the government to provide urgent relief for flood victims.
Frontline businessman Alhaji Aliko Dangote is co-chairman of the committee. The President of commodities giant Dangote Group has already given N430 million to some of the victims.
Right activist and respected lawyer Olisa Agbakoba is co-chairman of the 43-member committee.
Chairman of mobile giant Globacom Dr. Mike Adenuga Jnr. is chief fund mobiliser.
The others are: Alhaji Karami Isiaku Rabiu (member), Alhaji Mohammed Indimi (member), Ngo Hannatu Cholum (member), Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija (member), former minister Prof. Dora Akunyili (member) and prominent banker and Heir Holdings chair Tony Elumelu (member).
Also in the committee are: Secretary-General, Nigerian Red Cross, representatives of the Christian Association of Nigeria(CAN), the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the European Union (EU), DFID and USAID.
There are also permanent secretaries of the following ministries: Environment, Water Resources, Works, Agriculture, Health, Finance, National Planning and Director-General, NEMA.
Other members are: Ag. Commissioner, National Commission for Refugees, Perm. Sec., Ecological Funds Office, Chairman, Senate Committee on Special Duties, Chairman, House Committee on Environment, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), National Council of Women’s Societies (NCWS), Tunde Lemo (Representing the Central Bank), Fatima Wali, Frank Nweke Jnr. and Senator Florence Ita-Giwa.
The President announced the committee in a national broadcast yesterday.
The Committee is to raise funds to complement the government’s resources for the provision of relief to flood victims and the post-impact rehabilitation of affected persons and communities, according to presidential spokesman Reuben Abati.
The Committee, which is also expected to advise the government on the judicious utilisation of funds raised, “has been authorised by President Jonathan to co-opt any other persons or organisations that it may find useful in carrying out its assignment.”
It has one year to conclude its task.
The government has already voted N17.6billion for the affected states and government agencies involved in tackling the effects of the disaster.
The breakdown shows that N13.3billion will go to states affected by flood and N4.3billion will be for government agencies.
The affected states have been categorised into four groups, based on the present assessment, Category A states will receive N500 million each. Category B states, N400 million each; Category C states N300 million each and Category D states, N250 million each.
Category A states are: Oyo, Kogi, Benue, Plateau, Adamawa, Delta, Bayelsa and Anambra.
Category B states are: Jigawa, Kano, Bauchi, Kaduna, Niger, Nasarawa, Taraba, Cross River, Edo, Lagos and Imo.
In Category C are: Kwara, Katsina, Gombe, Ogun, Ondo, Ebonyi, Abia and Rivers.
Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Yobe, Enugu, Ekiti, Osun, Akwa Ibom, Borno and Federal Capital Territory are in Category D.
The Ministry of Works is to get N2.6 billion, NEMA N1.1 billion, Ministry of the Environment N350 million, National Commission for Refugees N150 million and technical committee on flood’s impact assessment N100 million.
The allocation to the government agencies, according to the President, is to further intensify their intervention.
The president commiserated with all those who lost loved ones, properties as well as all the affected communities and institutions.
He noted that over the past few weeks, unprecedented floods have ravaged many parts of the country rendering tens of thousands of fellow Nigerians homeless and causing massive destruction of property, farmland and infrastructure across the country.
“It is sad that this global phenomenon of devasting flood has come to Nigeria at this time. I want to reassure all Nigerians that the Federal Government is prepared to do everything possible to mitigate the impact of this natural disaster,” he added.
The president also noted that the interim report of the presidential technical committee which assessed the impact of the floods has been presented to key stakeholders, including the leadership of the National Assembly and governors of of the affected states.
The report, according to him, contained some recommendations.
“The technical committee will continue to go around the country while the Vice President and I will also visit some of the affected communities.
“When we receive the committee’s final report, the Federal Government will further initiate medium and long term measures to check future flood disasters.”
He went on:
“In the main time, relevant government agencies have intervened to provide relief to the affected persons in collaboration with the state governments. The National Management Emergency Agency, NEMA, has so far spent N1.314 billion to provide mediate relief material. The Minister of Works has spent 556 million on the repair of collapsed bridges and the construction of by-passes while the Minster of Environment has spent N95 million on sundry relief measures. “
“In addition to this, the Federal Government has decided on a number of measures to further ameliorate the situation.
“This include immediate provision of a total of 17.6 billion in direct financial assistance to the affected states and some Federal Government agencies responsible for disaster management.”
President Jonathan thanked governments, members of the National Assembly, private individuals, agencies of government, private sector institutions, NGOs, faith based organisations, and philanthropic groups who individually and collectively have risen to the aid of persons communities affected by the floods.
“This humanitarian and compassionate spirit that has been on display in the past few weeks, reassures us that at critical moments, Nigerians are able to come together in pursuit of a common purpose,” he added.
The President also reassured Nigerians that this administration remains fully committed to the welfare and well being of all Nigerians at all times.