President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed sadness about ravaging floods in some parts of Nigeria, asking governors to explain their efforts and usage of funds.
Buhari said the situation is under close watch, assuring that the government at the center will keep sending teams to render necessary help.
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Torrential rains have caused the death of a number of citizens and destroyed properties across the country.
The President extended condolences to communities in towns and villages, who have lost relatives, suffered damage, and destruction of farmlands.
Buhari disclosed that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had written to all states on the appropriate action ahead of the 2022 wet season.
A statement on Tuesday by his spokesman, Garba Shehu said calls for the federal government to respond to all outbreaks of natural disaster do not just display an understanding of Nigerian law.
The presidency urged 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”, Shehu asserted.
The statement said local, State and federal governments have a sizeable budget allocated monthly precisely for dealing with state-level natural emergencies.
“It is not clear why some of the State governments in question are not already drawing upon those funds to tackle the current emergency,” he said.
Shehu said if the monies are no longer available, States and local councils should “contact relevant authorities to explain what has happened with those funds.”
The presidency added that under the prevailing revenue allocation formula, 2.32 percent of derivation funds is set aside for ecology and disaster management.
States and the FCT get 0.72 percent, 774 local governments get 0.6 percent, while the government of the federation gets 1 percent.
