Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP), has condemned the federal government's nonchalant attitude to the flood emergency in many parts of Kogi, Edo, Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau, Bayelsa and the FCT.
Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP), has condemned the federal government's nonchalant attitude to the flood emergency in many parts of Kogi, Edo, Benue, Nasarawa, Plateau, Bayelsa and the FCT.
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In a statement signed by its National coordinator, Mr. Chino Obiagwu, LEDAP noted today that many communities abutting the River Niger from Bayelsa to Niger States have in the last week been displaced by flood and their homes completely submerged in water, but that the government has failed to bring adequate emergency relief to the millions of Nigerians affected or displaced.
“Many have died and several thousands injured or under intense threat of imminent epidemic,” the statement said. “Despite this huge disaster, the federal government and most state governments have not sufficiently responded or provided the much need relief to victims especially vulnerable women and children.”
LEDAP said that only a few state governors have identified with the victims while federal officials, who have the primary responsibility to manage such emergencies, have demonstrated no concern.
Drawing attention to the several billions of Naira allocated to, and purportedly being spent in the ecological sector, LEDAP noted that not much has been done to manage flooding even after the government’s metereologists warned earlier in the year that there would be increased flooding of river banks during this raining season.
"There is no evidence that the money earmarked for flood control has been properly utilized,” the statement continued. “In every part of the country there is one ecological problem or another: from erosions in the south east to flooding in the south west and north central to desertification in the northeast and northwest."
LEDAP called on the National Assembly to assume its oversight responsibility and making sure that ecological funds and associated budget allocations and releases are prudently utilised in controlling future disasters.
It also called on the federal and state governments to properly equip the National Emergency Management Agency and the Red Cross to enable them provide adequate emergency relief and rehabilitation to the victims of the flood.
LEDAP urged the government to urgently embark on massive clean-up of affected communities and put in place health care measures to ensure the there is little or no outbreak of diseases among the displaced communities, and to provide long term rehabilitation of the victims after the flood subsides, including financial and material support for rebuilding their homes and recovering their farmlands.
“The victims are Nigerians citizens and deserve to be adequately protected by government,” it stressed.
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