The National Economic Council, NEC, has advised state governments to take proactive and necessary mitigative measures in addressing the envisaged 2020 flood disaster amidst COVID-19 pandemic.
This was part of the outcome of the 3rd monthly virtual NEC meeting chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday.
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development, Sadiya Farouq, presented to the council a report on flood disaster risk management in Nigeria for 2020, where she said study already revealed that twenty five percent of the world’s landmass and nearly seventy five per cent of its population are at risk.
The Chairman of the NEC Ad-hoc Committee on Security and Policing and the Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, presented to the NEC, progress report on the persistent security situation in the country particularly the activities of Boko Haram in the Northeast and informed the council that state governments have been overwhelmed by insecurity expenditures and there is need for the Federal Government to inject more funds to augment expenses by the states.
The NEC also received a progress report from its ad-hoc committee interfacing with the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, asking states and the FCT to look for ways in scaling up the communication at the grassroot level/noncompliance to non-pharmaceutical interventions.
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The Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, reported to the council balances in the excess crude account, stabilization account as well as the Natural Resources Development Fund account.
Editor: Ena Agbanoma
