•Council fails to intervene in governors, FAAC crisis •Excess Crude Account now $1.9 billion THE National Economic Council (NEC) meeting yesterday backed the recommendation for setting up of Federal Project Coordinating Unit on flood prevention, mitigation and preparedness programme. Anambra State Governor Willy Obiano disclosed this at the end of about two hours meeting of the council chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He was with Bauchi State Governor Mohammed Abubakar and Oyo State Deputy Governor Moses Adeyemo and Special Adviser to the President on Economic Matters Adeyemi Dipeolu According to Obiano, Minister of State for Environment Usman Jibril briefed the council urging for collaborative partnership between the Federal Government and state governments against flooding and other erosion disasters in the country. He said: “The presentation informed the council on the imminent onset of this year’s flood season and the need for collaborative partnership between the Federal and State Governments with the Presidential Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation (PCFRR) for immediate intervention on flood prevention, mitigation and preparedness in the country. “The occurrence and magnitude of flood continue to increase in Nigeria due to many factors, among which are excessive prolonged rainfall, siltation of existing streams, human manipulation of drainage basins, undeveloped drainages, poor urban planning and dam collapse, etc. “It is estimated that about 20 % of the population is at risk from one form of flooding or another, resulting in property damages and loss of lives annually – climate change projections indicate that there may be greater risk of flooding in the years ahead “Natural causes of flood are beyond human control, but human manipulation/human induced situation can either be prevented or at least have their impact mitigated. The recommendations and prayers, he said, included: “Short time and sustainable way of de-silting major tributaries and canals ahead of the flooding season – this is relatively inexpensive and executable within a short period of time, and “Need to set up a Federal Project Coordinating Unit to comprise officers from the collaborating entities (Federal, states and PCFRR), to be headed by a director – this is to identify locations for critical actions and realistic cost estimates, and implement the flood prevention, mitigation and preparedness programme. On the council decision, he said: “Council welcomed the recommendations.” The Bauchi State Governor said the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, briefed the council on the prison decongestion and the cases of condemned convicts nationwide. The presentation, he said, sought council’s attention on the need to tackle the challenges associated with the cases of condemned convicts in prisons nationwide. Bauchi State Governor added that the Federation Allocations Account Committee (FAAC) and state governors’ crisis was not discussed during the meeting. Dipeolu said the council was also briefed on the gains of the National MSME Clinics. Oyo State Deputy Governor said Minister of Finance Kemi Adeosun reported to the council the balances in the following accounts as at July 16, 2018 are as follows: “Excess Crude Account (ECA) – $1, 918, 509, 918. 86; Stabilisation Fund Account – N18, 892, 864, 216.65; and Natural Resources Development Fund – N133, 715, 427, 387.37.]]>

"Exciting news! TheNigeriaLawyer is now on WhatsApp Channels 🚀 Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest legal insights!" Click here! ....................................................................................................................... Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material and other digital content on this website, in whole or in part, without express and written permission from TheNigeriaLawyer, is strictly prohibited _________________________________________________________________ [Register Now] ILA Nigeria Branch Marks 10 Years With Infrastructure Financing As Theme For 7th Annual Conference The International Law Association - Nigeria Branch 7th annual conference on public-private partnerships for sustainable infrastructure financing, April 4-5 in Abuja. Details: https://ilanigeria.org.ng/conference _________________________________________________________________

NIALS' Compendia Series: Your One-Stop Solution For Navigating Nigerian Laws (2004-2023)

Email: info@nials.edu.ng, tugomak@yahoo.co.uk, Contact: For Inquiry and information, kindly contact, NIALS Director of Marketing: +2348074128732, +2348100363602.