N8bn RELIEF FUND: NEMA fingered in poor distribution of relief materials in states

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) may have failed to institute a regime of efficiency and effectiveness in its handling of emergencies during periods of crisis in the country.

This revelation came to light recently when its helmsman, Mustapha Maihaja, acknowledged before the House of Representatives Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness, which is investigating breach of public trust in the agency, that the agency may have failed to comply with the provisions of NEMA establishment Act which mandates it to liaise with its state counterparts during distribution of relief materials.

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Engr Mustapha however, added that the exigency of the situation required the agency to make emergency procurements. He also faulted Yobe State statement that NEMA did not make any contact with the state on the distribution and presented a letter of communicated to the committee where the state acknowledged correspondence from them.

The hearing of the day was focused on the distribution of relief materials or lack of it, and the N8 billion Emergency Food Intervention Programme in the five states in the North East region: Borno, Yobe, Gombe, Adamawa and Bauchi States.

Representatives of governments of Gombe, Yobe, Bauchi and Taraba states had made testimonies before the committee where they disclosed that NEMA did not involve the state government or the state emergency agencies when the commenced the distribution of items. They also added that they could not ascertain whether the items were distributed by NEMA according to the claim of the DG because of their non-involvement in the whole arrangement.

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