In a move to address the pressing issues of flooding and natural disasters across Nigeria, the National Economic Council (NEC) has approved the disbursement of N3 billion to each state government.
This decision was announced during the 144th NEC meeting held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday.
Speaking to State House correspondents, Bauchi State governor, Bala Mohammed said the funds are intended to help state governments tackle the immediate challenges posed by floods, erosion, drought, and other environmental calamities.
According to him, the governors expressed their appreciation to the Federal Government for the timely disbursement of the relief funds, which will undoubtedly provide much-needed support to the affected communities across the country.
He said, “NEC discussed exhaustively the flood situation across the states. And the governors acknowledged the support of the federal government in terms of releasing N3 billion as a measure to ensure that at least, they provide palliative for the flood.
“The flood was more devastating along the North-East axis where a major artery between Kano and Maiduguri has been cut off with devastating effects on households, schools, bridges and other means of livelihood. Lives were lost and a lot of properties were also destroyed.
“Of course that has really provided a big challenge to us as a government and as a people in our states because we need to provide more of food security.
“Already, farmlands are already submerged and therefore there’s need for collaboration between all the tiers of government to ensure food security.”
On his part, Nasarawa State governor, Abdullahi Sule, said council also established governance structure to ensure the interventions will not be temporary.
He said, “The Flood Committee has to be reconstituted and the new members of the councils are governors of Kogi, Akwa Ibom, Oyo, Ebonyi, Bauchi, Bayelsa and Jigawa states.
“Others are the Minister of Water Resources; Minister of State, Water Resources; Minister of State for Environment, DG Nigeria Sovereignty Investment Authority (NSIA), DG NIMET, DG NWRI, MD/CEO NIWA, MD if NNDC, MD NEDC, and DG NEMA.”
Governor Sule who chairs the committee said the council has decided that Monday will be the deadline for all the states of the Federation to submit details of damages including farms, schools, barges that have been affected by the last flood.
“These are the new very strong membership of the flood committee that will continue to address council henceforth,” he added.
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