2012 flood: What became of Dangote committee’s N12 billion

The inauguration brought cheering news to the over 2.1 million Nigerians displaced by flood which the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) put the cost of damages and losses at over N3 trillion.The committee may have completed its assignment following the redeployment of the Secretary Hajiya Fatima Modu to the Ministry of Aviation as a substantive […]

The inauguration brought cheering news to the over 2.1 million Nigerians displaced by flood which the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) put the cost of damages and losses at over N3 trillion.
The committee may have completed its assignment following the redeployment of the Secretary Hajiya Fatima Modu to the Ministry of Aviation as a substantive director.
The posting of the secretary by the Head of Service is an indication that the request for extension of time by the committee as made known to Daily Trust recently by the Co-Chair Olisa Agbakoba was refused by government.
The committee, according to one of the member who spoke to Daily Trust on condition of anonymity, concluded its works early this month with the prequalification of contractors from the bids advertised.
“But the chairman, Dangote collected all the files and said he was going to see Mr President, so now we don’t know what is next, the secretariat is like a grave yard now,” the source added.
Before winding up of its activities, the committee had raked in N12 billion from well meaning Nigerians and international donor agencies who contributed to alleviate the suffering of the flood victims who up till now have been unable to integrate themselves into society.
Nasarawa State government said it is waiting on the Dangote committee to be able to resettle the 2012 victims in the state while other states such as Benue, Kogi, Kwara and Edo said they were ready to provide lands for the committee to build the promised houses for the victims.
The committee had previously issued a statement calling on reputable companies to bid for building of houses as well as provision of essential amenities in the 22 affected states.
The states are: Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Bauchi, Benue, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Jigawa, Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Nasarawa, Niger, Plateau, Rivers and Taraba.
Apart from the houses, the PCFRR also called for companies to bid for the provision of potable water in the affected states.
According to the statement,  “the committee is desirous of executing several projects/programmes  in line with its terms of reference(TOR) and therefore invites interested reputable and qualified companies (manufacturers, suppliers, contractors, etc.) to submit technical and financial bids for the procurement and construction of the lots in the 22 affected states.”
The statement added that the scope of work includes construction of units of 2-bedroom and 3-bedroom flats in the affected states as well as construction of community centers. The project includes procurement and installation of both mobile solar powered packaged water treatment plant and mobile generator powered water treatment plant, procurement and installation of solar powered hand pumps and rehabilitation of existing boreholes.
Mallam Jato Garba, a representative of a farmers group from Nasarawa state told Daily Trust that they were shocked by the way the Dangote committee conducted its activities.
“We lost everything, government thought it wise to give us relief and rehabilitate us but the committee just collected money from Nigerians and international organisations all in the name of helping us but where is the money?” Garba asked.
Garba’s fear that the N12 billion may have been diverted was also re-echoed recently by Campaign for Justice and Equity who were in court demanding for a an order of mandamus, to force the committee to disclose how much it realised and what it did with it.
Observers are of the opinion that the committee’s activities may have been politicised as recent happenings in the polity involving the G7 governors who are potential benefactors from the committee’s activities may have forced government to keep mute on the funds realised.
Dr Samson Ukpai, a public affairs analyst said that it is very difficult to separate what is happening in the political arena from the plight of the victims.
“It is unfortunate but this is Nigeria for you. Here we play politics with every issue. People’s lives and means of livelihood was completely ruined by the flood, a committee was set up to look into their sufferings and Nigerians and international organisations contributed generously but the victims are still suffering yet, there is a N12 billion to integrate them back into society,” Ukpai said.