2012 Jos Flood Victims And Unused Relief Materials

At a time when disaster management agencies in Nigeria should be preparing for the predicted heavy rainstorm and floods of this year, it is very strange to learn that last year’s flood disaster victims in Jos, Plateau State are still awaiting relief.

This is coming nearly one year after the floods and chain of protestation by the affected victims without any positive action by authorities of the Plateau State government and officials of the State Emergency Management Agency. In all those months, government’s known explanation was that the security situation in the state made it difficult for officials to freely visit some disaster prone areas to distribute the materials.

The second reason given was that relevant institutions and indeed Emergency Management Agency officials were still compiling and collating necessary data on the end beneficiaries at the end of which disbursement would commence.

We consider these reasons a little flimsy and most unacceptable after a whole year, because even in a total war situation, relief workers are protected by the United Nations chatter to deliver relief materials to victims of war.

Besides, it should not require more than a full calendar year to compile and verify authenticity of claims of victims of a flood in a state, and not the whole Federation. That, to us, is also a complaint that should not have been contemplated.

That is why it came to many as a huge shock that the same relief materials for which the Jos flood victims had been awaiting distribution, for upwards of a year, have been gutted by fire. That all the relief materials for which data was being collated endlessly perished in the reported fire.

Even as the State Emergency Management Agency’s Executive Secretary, Alhassan Barde confirmed the story, many are still in doubt that such recklessness and demonstration of crass insensitivity to the plight of the needy, could be condoned in Nigeria.

By their nature, relief materials are emergency needs meant to assuage pains suffered by victims of natural disasters like the 2012 flood victims in such a timely manner that helps to reduce their temporary deprivation.

This is why The Tide considers it most condemnable that the Plateau Government could allow such relief materials meant for 2012 flood victims lie in waste for a whole year, only to be wasted by fire. Apart from the moral implications, the Plateau example negates global campaigns against wastages as exemplified in the theme of this year’s World Environment Day, ‘Think, Eat and Save’. The Jos example ultimately fell short of all three imperatives due to human insensitivity.

Unfortunately, June and July, the high risk flood season of the year, which experts have warned, would witness even heavier rainstorm and higher floods with attendant violent disaster levels, are by the corner. For that reason, all responsible states are taking preventive steps to minimize predicted disaster levels. This is why it is even more unfortunate that victims of 2012 may have to wait for the floods of 2013 to enjoy any form of reprieve from the horror of the past.

The Tide insists that the circumstances concerning the delay and or refusal to distribute such relief materials now reportedly perished in the fire, be investigated thoroughly and make those found culpable to face criminal justice.

Just like the Plateau State case, we consider it equally unthinkable that Benue State is also yet to disburse the Five Hundred Million Naira (N500m) relief fund offered it by the National Disaster Relief Committee, nearly a year after. Governor of the State, Gabriel Suswan who confirmed the non-disbursement of the relief fund said the money was still intact.

The question is what was it meant for? To add to the revenue base of the state in fixed deposit or help assuage the sufferings of the flood victims? Since the latter is the case, we suggest that the money be spent on what it was originally meant for. But if indeed there were no flood victims as earlier reported by the state then it cannot benefit from such relief fund therefore, it should be returned to the Federal Disaster management Agency to expand plans on preventive measures against the impending floods.