President Goodluck Jonathan
By Muhammad Bello and Onyebuchi Ezeigbo, Seriki Adinoyi and Charles Onyekamuo
Victims of this year’s perennial flooding may soon get some respite as the Federal Government and the National Assembly mull the idea of a supplementary budget in order to alleviate their sufferings in many states of the federation.
Similarly, governors of the states affected by the disaster have been implored to be more proactive in order to assuage the victims’ difficulties.
This was the outcome of nocturnal meeting between President Goodluck Jonathan, representatives of the Federal Government, leadership of the National Assembly and state governors.
This is as a federal government delegation led by Minister of Environment, Hajia Hadizza Mailafia and her Aviation counterpart, Stella Oduah, the Minister of State for Works, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda; the National Emergency Management Agency, Mohammad Sani Sidi which visited Anambra State to assess the extent of damage cause by the flood that has ravaged over 20 States of the federation returned a verdict that the state was the worst hit.
The development is coming on the heels of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP), member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Chriscato Emeka and Timothy Golu of Plateau State House of Assembly calling on the federal government to hasten action to come to the aid of victims.
The meeting which ended in the early hours of Friday, it was gathered deliberated on the extent of the flood and what can be done to address the situation.
The House of Representatives had urged the Executive to forward a supplementary budget to the National Assembly to tackle the floods.
Briefing State House Correspondents after the meeting, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal said, “The issue is still being discussed. Whatever concerns Nigerians should be the concern of a responsible government and this government is responsible and it is responding to the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians, that is why we had this high level meeting at this period to consider the issue of flooding and how it has affected our communities.”
Flanked by the President of the Senate, David Mark, the Speaker assured that, “The Federal Government is going to intervene in collaboration with the states to be sure that the immediate situations are remedied.”
Delta State Governor, Emmanuel Uduaghan explained that government’s concern, in the short term, was to provide succour to the victims, resettle displaced persons and provide basic needs for them.