Members of the House of Representatives Committee on Ecological Funds have alleged that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) allowed lopsidedness in reaching out to states which were affected by the recent flooding in the country.
The committee is investigating the total consolidated accruals and utilization of the fund.
The director-general of NEMA, Ahmed Mustapha, who appeared before the committee, said following the recent flood disasters, the agency had responded to over 1,427,370 displaced persons in all the states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Mustapha said the provision of food and non-food items for immediate relief and building materials to facilitate long-term rehabilitation of the impacted population is still ongoing.
But a member from Edo State, Hon. Oghuma Johnson (APC, Edo) accused the agency of giving preferential treatment to a particular region of the country in its relief materials distribution selection process.
Johnson, who was visibly agitated as he banged on the table, told the DG that he was partial and the impact of the distribution claim had not been felt in his constituency and Edo State as a whole.
He said, “In the whole of my area, we do not have any assembly members and you said you informed assembly members from my state and I am here. It is my own federal constituency that is swallowed up by the flood. I moved a motion concerning my federal constituency and that is the only way they communicate to you. I do not have any personal relationship with you. I don’t have to ask you for anything because I do not need anything from you.”
Also, member from Ogun State, Hon. Adewunmi Onanuga, said she had written twice to the agency with regards to issues in her state and constituency but never got a response.
The chairman of the committee, Hon Ibrahim Isiaka, also from Ogun State urged NEMA to involve the lawmakers in its activities.
Giving details of consolidated accruals and ecological fund utilisation from 2011-2022, the DG said the sum of N112. 13 billion was expended in disaster management activities across the country.
He however said unlike other appropriated funds, balances from ecological funds were rolled over to the next fiscal year.
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