Reps To Probe NEMA Over Alleged Mismanagement Of N17bn

The House of Representatives on Thursday ordered its committee on emergency and disaster preparedness to probe the financial operations of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

This is following an allegation that the agency has been unable to account for the sum of N17 billion which it has received so far.


The resolution to probe the Agency followed a motion brought by a member from Benue State, Representative Benjamin Wayo, who alleged that the agency has violated the public trust by allegedly mismanaging relief materials and awarding contracts illegally.


“The core mandate of NEMA is to coordinate the management of disasters across the country and to assist victims of such disasters. In spite of this core mandate, several cases of disasters across the country have not been given necessary attention.


“For example, the hunger issue in IDP camps in the North East, the farmers/herdsmen conflict, fire disaster victims and many other such cases across the country that have been neglected,” Wayo told the House.


He explained further that NEMA has received more than N10 billion from the 20% national ecological fund in the last one year. He said N5billion was allotted for the agency to tackle hunger in the North East and about N2billion was given to the agency for flood intervention across the country.


The motion was unanimously adopted by the members when it was put to a voice vote by the speaker, Right Honourable Yakubu Dogara.


The House, therefore, mandated its committee on emergency and disaster preparedness to investigate NEMA and report back within six weeks.