ABUJA — President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed concern about ravaging floods in some parts of Nigeria, said the situation is under close watch and noted that monitoring of communities prone to flooding will continue with a view to rendering all necessary assistance.
A statement by the Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, however, said the President is asking governors to explain their efforts and usage of funds.
President Buhari explained that under the prevailing revenue allocation formula, 2.32 percent of derivation funds are set aside for ecology and disaster management.
The statement read in part: “It is not clear why some of the State governments in question are not already drawing upon those funds to tackle the current emergency.
“By the law of land, NEMA takes 20 percent of the amount allocated to the Federal Government, the Northeast Development Commission, NEDC, collects 10 percent, the National Agricultural Land Development Authority, NALDA, 10 percent, and the National Agency for the Great Green Wall, GGW, 0.5 percent, leaving 0.55 of the one percent to the government at the center for ecological protection and disaster management”.
“If the monies are no longer available, States and local councils should “contact relevant authorities to explain what has happened with those funds”.
The President commends the few states that planned ahead of natural disasters and manage same where they occur, urging governors that have swung into action to continue with their efforts, “and those that have not to immediately face their duties of managing the flooding”.
“That is the job that the President, Governors, and council Chairmen have been elected to do”.
President Buhari extended condolences to communities in towns and villages, who have lost relatives, and suffered damage, and destruction of farmlands across the country.
The statement said local, State and federal governments have a sizable budget allocated monthly precisely for dealing with state-level natural emergencies.
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