The Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday approved N27.4 billion for a total 232,989 in states ravaged by flood and conflicts.
Breakdown of the number shows that 163,117 farmers from 14 state whose farms were ravaged by floods are to get N18.9 billion while 69,872 people from conflicts ravaged states are to collect N8.5 billion.
Kebbi State Governor and Vice Chairman of the National Food Security Council, Atiku Bagudu told State House correspondents after about seven hours FEC meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
He said that the FEC approved N18.9 billion for intervention in 14 states ravaged by flooding and the intervention will take form of seedlings, fertilizers among other items.
The states ravaged by conflicts according to Bagudu are Adamawa, Benue, Borno, Plateau, Taraba and Zamfara.
He said “FEC considered and approved two memos from the national food security council. First it approved the intervention for states that have been affected by conflicts and insecurity, where many have been displaced from their homes and some are living in Internally Displaced Persons camps.
“While support has been given in terms of accommodation, food, welfare, the national food security council considered the importance of helping them restore their livelihood activities, particularly agricultural activity. Council approved the memo by Mr. President and approved N8,558,529,755 for intervention in Adamawa, Benue, Borno, Plateau, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara.
“The beneficiaries are estimated about 69,872 people. The intervention includes provision of fertilizer, seedlings, chemicals, poultry and animals to enable them resume economic activity.
“Secondly, council considered and approved the submission which originated from national food security council on states that have been severely affected by flooding. It is not an exhaustive list because the National Emergency Management Agency statutorily provides all states that experience one emergency or the other.
“Last year, there was unusual amount of flooding in some states about 14 of them and the national food security council considered the impact of that flooding on the agricultural sector, food security, animal husbandry and fisheries. And so, today the council approved an intervention totally N18,942,818,912.14.
“Contracts would be awarded to 15 companies to provide seedlings, agro chemicals and fertilizers to 163,117 beneficiaries located in 14 states.
“The states are Adamawa, Anambra, Beyelsa, Benue, Delta, Edo, Jigawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Niger, Rivers, Sokoto and Taraba.
“As part of the work of national food security council, other interventions have been considered and are being worked upon by the beneficiary community and also the livestock sector.” he stated
On his part, the Minister of Environment, Suleiman Hassan said that FEC also approved another tranche of five contracts totalling N3.09 billion for continuation of remedial work on Ogoni land environmental reclamation project.
The reclamation project is sequel to the United Nation Environmental Programme (UNEP) report, for which Buhari flagged off the project in 2016. Sixteen contracts had earlier been awarded for the project.
He explained that the five lots were brought to the FEC because it was above the threshold of the ministerial tenders board unlike the first 16 lots that passed through the tender board.
Other approvals by the FEC, according to the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, included a TETFUND intervention contract of N613.3 million for the construction of Faculty of Arts complex at Adamawa State University.
He also said that Nigeria has signed the Safe School Initiative to make schooling and education safe on the country.
The Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, said that FEC approved contract augmentation for the completion of Enugu water supply scheme, thus increasing the contract sum from N985 million to N1.15billion.
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