Senate Probes NEMA Over ‘Selective’ Disaster Response

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BY SEGUN ADEBAYO, ABUJA – The Senate on Tuesday directed its Committees on Special Duties, Ecology and Climate Change and Environment to investigate the effectiveness of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), over disaster response in in the country in 2019.

The equally directed NEMA to immediately implement a response programme for the flood disaster that affected various communities in Demsa, Numa, Guyuk and Lamurde Local Governments of Adamawa State.

The resolutions were reached by the Upper legislative chamber on Tuesday sequel to the consideration of a motion sponsored by Senator Binos Yaroe (APC, Adamawa South).

While moving the motion, Yaroe noted that NEMA which was established by Act 50 of the 1999 constitution (as amended) for the purpose of managing disasters in Nigeria has failed to live up to expectations.

Yaroe noted that a major flood which occurred in October 2019 as a result of release of excess water by the authorities of Lagbo dam in Cameroon, adding however that NEMA was selective in its disaster response interventions.

He said; “NEMA performed a disaster response action by distributing relief materials to communities in Furore, Yola South, Yola North and Girei Local Governments of Adamawa State affected by the floods.

“This intervention by NEMA was not extended to other local governments in Adamawa State along the River Benue valley equally affected by the flood disaster.

“Although the attention of the Director-General of NEMA was drawn to the need to provide relief materials to communities of the four local governments in Adamawa State severely affected by the October floods, nothing has been done; and NEMA would appear to be selective in its disaster response interventions,” Yaroe said.

Meanwhile, the Senate on Tuesday considered a Bill for an Act to amend the National Council on Public Procurement and Bureau of Public Procurement Act No. 14 of 2007.

The bill which was sponsored by Senator Abdullahi Sankara is among the three bills for amendment of the Public Procurement Act by the National Assembly.

In his remarks, President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, said an amendment to the Public Procurement Act would ensure a successful implementation of the 2020 budget when passed into law by the National Assembly.

The Public Procurement bill sponsored by Senator Sankara was referred to the Senate Committee on Public Procurement for further legislative action.

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