DIASPORAN GROUP CALLS FOR ACCOUNTABILITY OF ECOLOGICAL FUNDS AND RESPONSIVE GOOD GOVERNANCE IN NIGERIA.

"The accompanying devastation of the flooding could have been avoided by the Federal Government, if the dam in Adamawa State as proposed by the Paul Biya government of Cameroun in 1982, had been built before now." UFD.

"The flood situation across the country has ravaged many communities, washed away roads, and farms, and destroyed people’s properties. Food insecurity which was creeping into our polity has just taken a giant leap and landed on us not to mention the poverty challenges and health and national security issues that this avoidable calamity has exacerbated."

.... Calls for urgent actions by the government to salvage the situation and stop the different narratives of shifting responsibilities with different narratives.

A group of profiled personalities from the Urhobo nation based in the Diaspora has demanded the accountability of the Ecological Fund in Nigeria, following the outcome of the current but avoidable deadly floods that have ravaged and, still ravaging the country recently.

The group, under the aegis of Urhobo Fdn in Diaspora, on behalf of its members cutting across Africa, Europe, The Caribbeans, Canada, the UK, and the United States of America, have expressed their worries in the debilitating and epileptic manner that Nigeria's leaders are running the country in terms of human and social rights.

UFD, in a release to journalists, said; “We know that in the recent past, Nigeria has been bedeviled by too often floods. The accompanying devastation of the flooding could have been avoided by the Federal Government, if the dam in Adamawa State as proposed by the Paul Biya government of Cameroun in 1982, had been built before now.”

Sadly, when the project commenced under the Shehu Shagari government in 1982, hopes were high but the military coup by the Major General Muhammadu Buhari-led regime overthrew the democratically elected government of Shagari from office and this led to the stoppage of projects including the dam project. 

However, we have seen the democratic governments of Olusegun Obasanjo, Musa Yar'adua, Goodluck Jonathan, and again Muhammadu Buhari.  These democratically elected leaders know that the dam at Adamawa would have, not only provided the country with about 330mw of electricity, but it would have also addressed the perennial flooding and displacement of Nigerians and the attendant deaths so far recorded.

The negligence of the leaders in this wanton irresponsibility; is the fact that not only are the citizens being neglected but their social and human rights are also being grossly violated with impunity.

First, the refusal to take up the responsibility to build the Dasin Hausa dam and secondly the accountability of Ecological Funds meant to support citizens in times like this should be readily made available for victims of this flooding disaster. The lack of response by the governments of the affected states is another tragedy on its own.

The River Niger and River Benue both link to the Rivers in the Southern parts of the country. It is overflowing through the connecting rivers from upper Nigeria to the lower parts. Lokoja, in Kogi state, is experiencing one of its worse times as several communities have been flooded. These rivers pass through parts of the Delta and Eastern States. Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, etc. are all currently affected.

The flood situation across the country has ravaged many communities, washed away roads, and farms, and destroyed people’s properties. Food insecurity which was creeping into our polity has just taken a giant leap and landed on us not to mention the poverty challenges and health and national security issues that this avoidable calamity has exacerbated.

The UFD calls for urgent actions by the government to salvage the situation and stop the different narratives of shifting responsibilities with different narratives of heavy rainfalls, overflow of local rivers, and the devastating impacts of climate change.

The consequential fact is the release of excess water from the Lagdo Dam in Northern Cameroon and the absence of dams to control the excesses from Cameroon’s dam that have resulted in these devastations.

Records indicate that Cameroon and Nigeria were supposed to build two dams at inception, such that the Nigerian dam, known as Dasin Hausa dam, which was to be in the north Eastern region, in present-day Adamawa State, would contain water released from the Lagdo Dam at any point in time to curtail an overflow.

We, therefore, call on the agencies so mentioned below to discharge their social and human rights duties towards these affected areas and suffering victims of the flooding disaster.

• The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

• The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development.

• All the States’ Governors in possession of the Ecological Fund, in these affected states.

Meanwhile, efforts are being made by our members to put in place and provide succor to the victims of the devastating floods.

SIGNED

1. Olorogun Chief Theodore Ochuko Arayki (UK)

2. Mrs. Joan Agboro-Scheil (Germany)

3. Mr. Vwede Jeff Obahor (Canada)

4. Dr. Patrick Ochuko Otoba (Burkina Faso)

5. Mr. Diamond Anthony Omene (Canada)

6. Rev. Austen Esakponaome Komon (UK)

See below for copy of the letter