By Amos Aar
COUNTRY Director, ActionAid Nigeria, Mrs Ene Obi, has urged the federal government to hold accountable those who embezzled the ecological fund meant for projects that would prevent flooding or cushion the effect of perennial flooding in the country.
Mrs Obi made the call Saturday in Agatu local government area of Benue State when ActionAid Nigeria donated relief materials to people displaced by the recent flood disaster and suspected herdsmen attacks in the area.
Obi, who is also the Convener, Civil Society Situation Room, stressed the need for the dredging of Rivers Benue and Niger to avert recurrent flooding.
“We hope that government can listen to the issue of flooding, flooding is a reality, the issue of flooding is heard year after year. We know that dredging of the River Niger and the River Benue, they have talked about it, they have talked about dam, it has not been done and next year we are going to be listening again. But this year, for this people, it was more than any other time. So, it means climate change is real and the issue is getting bigger.
“The federal government needs to do something. All those who consumed ecological fund should be held responsible because the fund is still a fund that is given to each state government. Are they using it? What are the state governments doing? When you find your people lying on the street, what are you doing to alleviate their suffering?” obi queried.
The Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria called on the Nigerian government come to the aid of the displaced persons, saying humanitarian organisations alone cannot do enough owing to inadequacy of resources at their disposal.
“We are calling on the government because without the government, our intervention can only be minimal, we are limited and we hope that government could do something that could stop the flooding so that people can go back to their homes,” Obi stated emphatically.
One of the beneficiaries of the items donated by ActionAid Nigeria, Mrs Salome Amedu, said it was her first time to benefit such a gesture since Agatu local government area was flooded in September 2022.
The items distributed included wrappers, mats, sanitary kits, utensils and N18,000 for each recipient to buy food items of their choice.
