ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State Post-Flood Management Committee has said it received a total cash donation of N552,000,000 from public-spirited individuals during the 2012 floods.
The clarification is contained in a report obtained from the Secretary of the committee, Mr Iniruo Wills.
The report stated that the committee received N500 million from the Chairman of Globacom, Otunba Mike Adenuga.
It stated further that the Bayelsa State Government under Seriake Dickson authorised the release of N32,000,000 for administrative expenses and another N20 million for relief materials (mattresses, food items, medical consumables, toiletries etc.)
The committee report was released following a petition by a non-governmental organisation to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleging diversion of N17.5 billion.
The committee’s report indicated that the NGO misinformed the EFCC and should apologize to Senator Dickson and Nigerians at large.
The report stated that the committee embarked on intervention efforts in 350 communities ravaged by the flood to complement the efforts of the state’s Flood Emergency Relief Management Committee led by then Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah (rtd).
It said the Jonah-led committee was fully funded by the state government with no donor funds.
The report read: “Soon after the inauguration, the Post Flood Committee embarked on the distribution of relief materials such as mattresses and medical consumables to schools, health institutions and youth corps members’ lodges.
“Affected communities benefited from food items and other consumables to complement earlier relief efforts by the State’s Flood Emergency Relief Management Committee led by John Jonah.”
The copy of the report produced by the Chairman, the late Chief Francis Doukpola, former Chairman Bayelsa Council of Elders and Mr Iniruo Wills, a former Commissioner for the Environment, stated that the committee took further steps to ensure that houses that were affected by the flood were salvaged.
It further stated that a total of 140,000 bags of cement were donated to 350 communities each of which got 400 bags.
The committee categorically rejected the claim that it received N17.5bn for flood victims at any time.
Senator Seriake Dickson had denied in an earlier statement that the state government did not receive such funds while he was Governor and that the government handed over the N500m donation by Mike Adenuga to the post-flood committee.