Farmers raise concerns over inequitable distribution of N1.5bn Flood Relief Funds

By Salifu Faridat

In the aftermath of the devastating 2022 flood disasters, concerns have been raised by peasant farmers who claim they were left without relief materials, despite the allocation of N1.5 billion for such assistance.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has faced allegations of excluding many affected farmers from receiving vital relief.

The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management, and Social Development had estimated the economic damage caused by the floods at an astonishing $6.68 billion (equivalent to N3 trillion) in November 2022.

The worst-hit states, including Rivers, Taraba, Cross River, Jigawa, Bayelsa, and Delta, saw approximately 944,989 hectares of farmland destroyed, along with the loss of 665 lives and the displacement of over two million people.

Farmers from these heavily affected states expressed disappointment, stating that they were overlooked by NEMA despite the agency’s claim of collaboration with State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs) to distribute relief materials funded by the Presidential Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation (PCFRR).

The PCFRR, chaired by Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Dr. Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), was established in response to the 2012 flood disaster. In October 2022, the committee approved N1.5 billion for NEMA to procure and distribute food and non-food relief materials.

Residents of Tai Local Government Area in Rivers State, like Uche Akpe, shared their frustration, asserting that they had not received any relief materials.

Similar sentiments were echoed by farmers in other states like Kano, where individuals who lost their farm produce claimed to have been left without assistance.

However, in some states such as Delta, relief materials were distributed to farmers through the Federal Ministry of Agriculture, bypassing NEMA.

Farmers and experts alike have called for flood-resistant seed varieties and increased agricultural support to mitigate the effects of future flooding and ensure food security.

NEMA responded to the allegations, explaining that they conducted enumeration and verification in collaboration with SEMAs to identify flood victims and allocate relief materials accordingly.

They emphasized the importance of farmers engaging with their respective SEMAs to ensure their needs are addressed effectively.