FG votes N17 billion for flood victims

[DT]

The Federal Government is to spend N17.6 billion on displaced people affected by the recent devastating floods in several states of the federation.  Addressing the nation yesterday in a live broadcast, President Goodluck Jonathan set up a fund raising committee co-chaired by Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Mr. Olisa Agbakoba to mobilise funds for the affected communities.

"The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has so far spent N1.314 billion to provide immediate relief materials.  The Ministry of Works has spent N556 million on the repair of collapsed bridges and the construction of bye-passes; while the Ministry 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.  These include the immediate provision of a total of N17.6 billion in direct financial assistance to the affected States and some Federal Government Agencies responsible for disaster management.   The States will receive a total of N13.3 billion while the Federal Agencies will receive N4.3 billion," Jonathan said.

He categorised allocation of the funds to states by the level of devastation "Based on the present assessment, the States have been categorized into four groups: A to D. All 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 include; Kogi, Anambra, Bayelsa, Oyo, Plateau, Benue, Adamawa and Delta states.

Other members of the fund raising com-mittee are; Dr.  Mike Adenuga Jnr (Chief Fund Mobilizer), Alhaji Karami Isiaku Rabiu, Alhaji Mohammed Indimi, Ngo Hannatu Cholum, Mrs. Folorunsho Alakija, Prof. Dora Akunyili and Mr. Tony Elumelu.

Also on the list are, Secretary-General, Nigerian Red Cross; Representative of  C.A.N, Representative of  N.S.C.I.A; Representative of the UNDP, Representative of the European Union,  Representative of , Representative of USAID, Perm. Sec., Fed. Ministry of Environment ;  Perm. Sec., Fed. Min. of Water Resources ; Perm. Sec., Federal Ministry of Works; Perm. Sec., Federal Ministry of Agriculture; Perm. Sec. Federal Ministry of Health and Perm. Sec., Federal Ministry of Finance.

Others are Perm.  Sec., Fed. Ministry of National Planning;    Director-General, NEMA;  Ag. Commissioner, National  Commission  for Refugees;   Perm.  Sec., Ecological Funds Office; Chairman, Senate Committee on Special Duties ; Chairman, House Committee on Environment ;   Rep.,  Nigerian Union of Journalists  and Rep.,  National Council of Women's Societies.

Also on the committee are Mr. Tunde Lemo, (Representing the CBN,  Ms. Fatima Wali, Mr. Frank Nweke Jnr.  And Senator Florence Ita-Giwa.



Daily Trust

[Nifemi Donald]

they should hand over the money to trust_worthy people o before corruption sets in..

[stanley igbinoba]

good decison, but the monies shud be properly utilise for the victims