NEMA Breaks Silence On Missing N19.4bn Relief Materials’ Fund

The National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, says it has resolved to allow the House of Representatives to investigate the alleged sum of N19.4bn statutorily allocated to the agency in the last one year.

The House of Representatives, had mandated its Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness to probe NEMA, over looted N19.4 billion relief materials funds for victims of disasters.

But, NEMA in a statement on Sunday signed by its Head, Media and Public Relations, Sani Datti, said said the management would respond to any invitation by the House of Representatives and oblige it any information requested as regards the funds.

The statement read in part, “This administration is committed to transparency, probity and accountability. It is therefore ready to account for the allocations made to NEMA in the last 10 months since it came on board.

“NEMA, however, wishes to clarify that it is ready to account for all funds appropriated or released to it in line with its mandate. With all sense of responsibility, the nation is assured that no allocation was siphoned under any guise.

“The agency believes that there is a communication gap between it and the House. But by the time NEMA management responds to the request of the House, the facts and figures will be presented to ensure that all parties are on the same page. The attendant understanding between the two parties will also lead to enhanced collaboration.”

NEMA said it hoped that there would be fairness whenever it was invited by the house on the issue.

“We respect the constitutional rights of the House to hold any agency accountable. We also want to state in clear terms that NEMA has nothing to hide,” the statement added.