x

NEMA kicks, rejects House report

By Friday Obande

The National Emergency Management Agency(NEMA ) this evening, rejected the report of the House of Representatives which indicted it of poor management of relief items meant for 16 states.

It said some of the findings and conclusions presented by the House Committee did not reflect the facts and documents placed before it by NEMA.

This was made known in a statement released by the agency late this evening.

The statement said: “The House of Representatives, at its sitting of 8th November 2018, which was aired live on the Nigerian Television Authority received the Report of the House Committee on Emergency and Preparedness Response on the alleged violation of public trust against the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

“We were shocked to hear some of the findings and conclusions presented by the Committee on the issues, which did not reflect the facts and documents placed before it by NEMA.

“While we shall in due course be making a more comprehensive response to all the points made, it is most important to clarify the following:

“On the Port Clearance and Transportation of Emergency Food Assistance by Chinese Government, the Federal Government received a total of 6,779MT of Rice for IDPs in the North East as donation by the Chinese Government. This amounted to 271 containers, which arrived Apapa Ports between June and October 2017.

“The processes of securing duty exemption, waivers and other related issues took several months, but the total quantity was subsequently cleared from the Apapa Port, transported and delivered to NEMA warehouses in the North East. It was thereafter distributed to the IDPs in the States of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba and Yobe. Documents on the transaction, including distribution to the IDPs were made available to the Committee.

“The correct total value of the rice is about N2.25 Billion (50 Million Chinese Yuan) and the amount spent on clearing, demurrage and storage was about N450 Million, not the N800 Million as alleged by the Committee.

“​On EFCC Investigation of the suspended staff of NEMA, the suspension of the Six (6) NEMA officers was a decision of its Governing Council based on the Interim Report of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, which indicted them for financial misappropriation. The suspension was in line with Public Service Rules and the extant Guidelines on Appointment, Promotion and Discipline.

“On the approval of N1.6 billion granted by the Federal Government for the Procurement and Delivery of Relief Items to 16 States affected by Flood in 2017, due process was observed in the procurement of the relief items and all items meant for the 16 states were received and acknowledged by respective State Governments. Documents evidencing the acknowledgement of the items were made available to the House Committee.

“On the Federal Government Emergency Food Intervention in the North East (EFINE), EFINE was a project implemented by a Presidential Committee comprising of relevant Ministries and Agencies of Government in response to the threat of hunger and starvation in the North Ease based on strong warning received from the United Nations in April 2017.

“All approvals were secured in accordance with due process, while the Committee and the UN World Food Programme worked collaboratively in the sourcing and distribution of the food items.

“The originating memorandum on the project was submitted by NEMA on 2 June 2017 for Presidential approval. All suppliers in EFINE were selected following due process. Copies of all relevant documents in respect of the project were made available to the House Committee.

“On the evacuation of Nigerians from Libya, the evacuation of stranded Nigerians from Libya was a multi-agency operation, which was undertaken jointly with all relevant stakeholders: Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Interior, Federal Ministry of Health, Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Intelligence Agency, Department of State Security, NAPTIP, National Commission for Refugees, relevant State Governments, etc. Two Thousand, One Hundred and Thirty (2,130) Nigerians were evacuated in the operation.

Hot this week

Editors Urge Government To Create Safe, Enabling Environment For Journalists

· Ask security agents to find missing Vanguard journalistAs...

EXCLUSIVE: Buhari orders probe of Isa Funtua, AMCON over keystone and Etisalat

Following the controversy generated by the leading opposition party,...

6 Signs your boyfriend thinks you are ugly -Take note of No. 2

They say there are three kinds of people; the...

2023: South-East, Middle Belt Forum Endorses Peter Obi

The South-East and Middle Belt Forum has endorsed the...

FG Reconvenes Meeting to Fast-Track Implementation of China-Nigeria FOCAC Agreements

The Federal Government of Nigeria has reconvened a high-level...

Barr. Cosmas Ternenge Akighir: Round Peg in a Round Hole @ NCDC

Barr. Cosmas Ternenge Akighir LLM, BL, LLB, EMBA ,...

Plateau Women Doctors Offer Free Medical Care in Attacked Community

By Isreal Adamu, JosMembers of the Medical Women’s Association...

Ncdmb Pledges Support to Caverton Helicopters

Amgbare Ekaunkumo, YenagoaThe Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content...

Prof. Ogbo Commends Jamb Boss Oloyede for Admitting 2025 Utme Glitch

By Noah Ocheni, LokojaThe Rector of Kogi state Polytechnic,...

New Ohaneze Ndi Igbo Bayelsa Chapter, Urged on Unity, Transparency

New Ohaneze Ndi Igbo Leadership in Bayelsa Urged to...

NCDMB Honours Former VP Osinbajo for Exemplary Service to Nigeria

Amgbare Ekaunkumo, YenagoaThe Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board...

NCDMB Pledges Support to Caverton Helicopters

Amgbare Ekaunkumo, YenagoaThe Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories

spot_imgspot_img