Governor Emmanuel Udughan of Delta state has inaugurated a 12 man committee to manage the N500 million flood fund released by the Federal Government.
The Committee is expected to coordinate and put in place structures, support facilities and systems to bring succour to the flood victims in the state.
It is also to plan and implement long term programmes for the rehabilitation of victims and manage the Post-Impact Resettlement of the affected persons and communities and relate with other persons, organizations and donor agencies to raise additional funds to provide urgent relief for victims of the recent flood disaster across the state.
While inaugurating the committee, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan charged the committee to prudently manage the grant as well as design a road map that will make for easy resettlement of the flood victims.
The committee would oversee the flood disaster and the post flooding rehabilitation of victims; advice the government on the judicious utilization of the funds provided by the federal government for the rehabilitation of the displaced persons and undertake the management of the funds.
Uduaghan enjoined the committee to liaise with Delta State University (DELSU) Technical Committee on the flooding and use the data gathered to facilitate their process as DELSU Technical Committee was assembled to give professional advice on how best to handle the rehabilitation of the flood victims.
Members of the committee were reminded that the state government had managed the needs of the displaced persons since the flood issue started with its own resources and appealed to them to “note that there are high expectations from Deltans and should therefore use the fund for resettlement purpose only”.
Chairman of the committee, Justice Francis Tabai, (Rtd) promised that the committee would work hard to meet the expectations of Deltans.Justice Tabai described the flood as monumental and assured the governor that the committee would tackle the problem selflessly and produce result.
Members of the committee are Prof. Pat Utomi, Arch-Bishop God-Do-well Awomakpa, Mrs. Florence Ehinlaye, Dr. Thomas Okpaku, Pharm Pual Enebeli, Dr. Asanuvwie S. Oberhiri and Dr. M. O. Osarenkhoe.
Others are Engr. Owen Mordi, Olise Ifejika, Barr. Oghenejabor Ikimi and Onyeisi Nkenchor who would serve as secretary.