Governor Sule Directs AG To Open Dedicated Account For N3bn Meant For Flood Disaster-Sule

Rabiu Omaku

Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule has acknowledged that the State is in receipt of N3bn given by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address the challenges of flood disaster in the State.

Governor Sule disclosed this while presiding over an expanded state executive conviction meeting at the Government House.

Thanking President Tinubu for fulfilling the promise he made to States during one of the National Executive Council (NEC) meetings, the Governor warned that every single kobo received must be used judiciously and strictly to mitigate the impact of the flood.

He explained that immediately after he was informed by the state Accountant General about the receipt of the money, he summoned officials of the Ministry for Humanitarian Affairs to discuss how best to utilize the funds.

“The money has been received by the Accountant General. When I was informed, I called the team together to discuss it. But I think we should discuss it in detail here to accept how to utilize the funds. What I asked the Accountant General to do is to create a dedicated account for this N3bn.

“We want to make sure that every kobo that we spent is accounted for and is related to flood. It will come from the items of people who have some kind of destruction and see how we are assisting them. I think that is what the government would like to have. So that even if no state is submitting details of how they spent the money I want us in Nasarawa to do that,” he emphasized.

He added that because his administration kept pushing to access the funds, he told the council that the 3bn must be accounted for.

Briefing newsmen shortly after the meeting, Commissioner for Special Duties, Humanitarian Affairs and NGOs, Dr Magret Elayo, said her ministry has already assessed areas that would be affected by the floods.

Dr Elayo identified flood-prone local Governments in the state as Nasarawa, Toto, Awe, and Doma, but that flood was also recently witnessed in Lafia, Karu, Wamba, and other areas.

“Right now we are at the implementation stage of using the resources to make sure that the people affected by the flood will be alleviated to a level where they can have a better living arrangement.

“Where we are going to provide food items, and household items pending when the flood subsides so that we can move them back into their own homes.  Most of that is to make sure we fix some of the properties that have been damaged and to make sure we provide conducive and temporary accommodation,” she stated.

She further disclosed that technical personnel from the ministry are currently on the field trying to capture all the areas affected by floods.

The Commissioner also spoke about the continued efforts of the present administration to alleviate the hardships being experienced by the people following the removal of the fuel subsidy.

She announced plans by her ministry to commence the distribution of rice as palliatives mostly to religious groups, professional groups, and unions, as part of Governor Sule’s effort to reach the vulnerable across the state.