Tuesday 9 October 2012

President Jonathan Donates N17.6bn To Flooded States...Sahara Reporters


President Goodluck Jonathan this morning
announced the donation of N17.6bn to
flooded states in the country.
The donation came several days after many
states were ravaged with flood, which led to
the death of about 147 people.
Also, many farmers had also committed
suicide due to loss of the farm produce.
Curious enough, Jonathan did not mention
the farmers in his early morning broadcast
where he announced the donation.
He said, "This include immediate provision of
a total of N17.6 billion in direct financial
assistance to the affected states and some
federal Government agencies responsible for
disaster management.
"States will receive a total of N13.3 billion
while the federal government agencies will
receive N4.3 billion." Text Of President
Goodluck Jonathan's National Broadcast On
Flooding
Fellow Nigerians,
1. Over the past few weeks, unprecedented
floods have ravaged many parts of our
country, rendering tens of thousands of fellow
Nigerians homeless, and causing massive
destruction of property, farmlands, and
infrastructure across the country.
2. I wish to express our deep commiseration
with all those who have lost loved ones; those
who have lost their property; as well as all the
affected communities and institutions.
3. It is sad that this global phenomenon of
devastating floods has come to Nigeria at this
time.
4. I want to reassure all Nigerians that the
Federal Government is prepared to do
everything possible to mitigate the impact of
this natural disaster.
5. I had earlier set up a Presidential
Technical Committee to visit all affected areas
with a view to properly assessing the impact
of the floods. The Committee has since
submitted an interim Report.
6. The Report, which contained a number of
recommendations, was presented to key
stakeholders including the leadership of the
National Assembly and Governors of the
affected States.
7. The Technical Committee will continue to
go round the country while the Vice President
and I will also visit some of the affected
communities. When we receive the
Committee’s final Report, the Federal
Government will further initiate medium and
long-term measures to check future flood
disasters.
8. In the meantime, relevant government
agencies have intervened to provide relief to
the affected persons in collaboration with the
State governments.
9. The National Emergency Management
Agency (NEMA) has so far spent N1.314
billion to provide immediate relief materials.
The Ministry of Works has spent N556 million
on the repair of collapsed bridges and the
construction of bye-passes; while the Ministry
of Environment has spent N95 million on
sundry relief measures.
10. In addition to this, the Federal
Government has decided on a number of
measures to further ameliorate the situation.
These include the immediate provision of a
total of N17.6 billion in direct financial
assistance to the affected States and some
Federal Government Agencies responsible for
disaster management. The States will
receive a total of N13.3 billion while the
Federal Agencies will receive N4.3 billion.
11. Based on the present assessment, the
States have been categorized into four
groups: A to D. All Category A States will
receive N500 million each; Category B States,
N400 million each; Category C States, N300
million each; and Category D States, N250
million each.
12. Category A States: Oyo, Kogi, Benue,
Plateau,
Adamawa, Delta, Bayelsa
and Anambra.
Category B: Jigawa, Kano, Bauchi, Kaduna,
Niger,
Nasarawa, Taraba, Cross-River,
Edo,  
Lagos and Imo.
Category C: Kwara, Katsina, Gombe, Ogun,
Ondo,
Ebonyi, Abia and Rivers.
Category D: Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Yobe,
Enugu,
Ekiti, Osun, Akwa-Ibom, Borno
and FCT.
13. To further intensify their intervention
activities, the following agencies of the
Federal Government have also been allocated
funds as follows:
• Ministry of Works   – ; N2.6
billion
• National Emergency Management
Agency
- ; N1.1 billion
• Ministry of Environment - N350 million
• National Commission for Refugees –
N150m
• Technical Committee on Floods Impact
Assessment        
- N100 million
14. I have also set up a National Committee
on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation to assist the
Federal Government to raise funds to mitigate
the pains and ensure the effective post-
impact rehabilitation of victims. This
Committee will be co-chaired by Alhaji Aliko
Dangote and Mr. Olisa Agbakoba, while Dr.
Mike Adenuga, Jr. will serve as the Chief
Funds Mobiliser.
15. The full membership of the Committee
will be announced immediately after this
broadcast.
16. Fellow Nigerians, let me use this
opportunity to thank State Governments,
members of the National Assembly, private
individuals, agencies of government, private
sector institutions, NGOs, faith-based
organizations, and philanthropic groups who
individually and collectively have risen to the
aid of persons and communities affected by
the floods.
17. This humanitarian and compassionate
spirit that has been on display in the past few
weeks reassures us that, at critical moments,
Nigerians are able to come together in pursuit
of a common purpose.lk
18. My Fellow Compatriots, let me once
again reassure you that this Administration
remains fully committed to the welfare and
well being of all Nigerians at all times.
19. May God bless the Federal Republic of
Nigeria.
20. I thank you all.

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