• FG orders release of N1.6bn to 16 states

From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye and Fred Itua, Abuja

The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has urged Abuja residents to heed early warnings on prevention of flood, to avert impending disasters.
Some residents, especially those on lowlands and others prone to flooding in places like Kubwa, Gwagwalada, Abaji, and Kuje, should begin moving to higher grounds to escape disaster, they said.
The alert was raised against the backdrop of the recent flooding which claimed many lives in neighbouring Suleja, in Niger state, and possible spillover effects on the nation’s capital.
Briefing newsmen, yesterday, FEMA Director, Mr. Abbas Idriss, said the agency is worried because, beside paying deaf ears to warnings by residents, human activities which encourage flooding are on the increase within the territory.
He noted that the agency has consistently carried out sensitisation campaigns in all the flood-prone areas, to ensure that looming disasters are averted.
“It is imperative for all residents to adhere to all the early warnings.
“I am not happy that people are not responding well to the early warnings we issued to them
“At the moment, we are prepared for any eventuality. We are concentrating effort on Area Councils because the places are far from the city centre where we have response teams.
“We have also embarked on recruitment of volunteers for emergency prevention and management.
“The agency has provided 112 toll-free emergency line for every FCT resident to take advantage of.”
In a related development, Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, has directed Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, to immediately release N1.6 billion to 16 states ravaged by floods.
The benefiting states are Edo, Sokoto, Ekiti, Osun, Akwa Ibom, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Ebonyi, Enugu, Abia, Oyo, Lagos, Plateau and Bayelsa.
The money is to be released directly to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) from the Ecological Fund, domiciled in the Central Bank Nigeria (CBN).
Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, told State House Correspondents, at the post-Federal Executive Council briefing that the money is to help cushion the effects of flood on victims.
He said the minister of Finance has been directed to release the money to the NEMA, for onward distribution to the affected states.