The federal executive council (FEC) on Wednesday approved
N27.46 billion as intervention fund to states affected by conflicts and
insecurity, with many displaced from their homes and some living in internally
displaced persons (IDP) camps.
The governor of Kebbi State and vice chairman of National Food Security Council (NFSC), Mr. Atiku Bagudu, disclosed this while briefing newsmen yesterday after a seven-hour FEC meeting in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Bagudu said the intervention was necessitated by the recommendations of NFSC chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to the governor, N8.52 billion is for the support of 69,872 IDPs affected by insecurity across eight states.
The states to benefit from the intervention include Adamawa, Benue, Borno, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara.
Bagudu explained that the intervention included provision of fertilisers, seedlings, chemicals, poultry and animals to enable about 69,872 beneficiaries to resume economic activity.
While support has been given in terms of accommodation, food and welfare, the governor said the NFSC predicated its decision on “the importance of helping them restore their livelihood, particularly agricultural activity.”
He also said FEC considered and approved the submission from NFSC on states that had been severely affected by flooding.
“It is not an exhaustive list because the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) statutorily provides for all states that experience one emergency or another.
“Last year, there was unusual amount of flooding in some states, about 14 of them, and the NFSC considered the impact of that flooding on the agriculture sector, food security, animal husbandry and fisheries,” said he.
The council, the governor explained, approved an intervention totalling N18.942 billion for contracts to be awarded to 15 companies to provide seedlings, agro chemicals and fertilisers to 163.117 beneficiaries in 14 states, namely, Adamawa, Anambra, Bayelsa, Benue, Delta, Edo, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Rivers, Sokoto and Taraba.
“As part of the council’s work, other interventions have been considered and are being worked upon by the beneficiary community and the livestock sector, Bagudu said.
The council also approved contract for five additional lots in the clean-up of Ogoni land.
The minister of state for environment, Mr. Suleiman Hassan, said “the contract is valued N3.03 billion.”
He added that the federal government had in June 2015 awarded 16 lots of the Ogoni clean-up.
Other decisions at the council meeting were the approval of N613 million contract for the construction of faculty of arts building at the Adamawa State University, stressing that the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETF) would fund the contract.
Guardian
