• Asks FG to mitigate effects of fuel subsidy removal
• Declares Gbajabiamila’s seat vacant

The lawmakers said it was necessary for the NEMA boss to brief the House on measures taken to prevent flood disasters and manage the socio-economic impact on people in flood-prone areas.

Immediate past Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, presented the motion, just before he resigned as member of the House.

The motion is titled: “Need to Commence Active Measures to Mitigate Probable Devastation of Severe Flood Season and Prepare Palliative Intervention to Prevent Worst Socio-Economic Consequences for Nigerians in Affected Areas.”

According to him, a large portion of the country is prone to yearly flooding, which, in recent years, has led to great destruction of life and property.

Gbajabiamila, who was recently appointed as Chief of Staff to the President, recalled that the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, in January, released seasonal climate prediction, with a forecast of early onset of rain across the country and heavy rains throughout the season.

He said the prediction of early rainfall had come to pass, and that there was reason to expect the forecast of a heavy rainy season.

He lamented that the 2023 flood outlook, prepared by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency, showed that 178 local councils in 32 states and the Federal Capital Territory fell within highly probable flood risk areas.

He said Nigeria had yet to recover from the 2022 flood, which affected more than four million people, displaced over two million and caused the death of 665 others.

Gbajabiamila said the flooding caused damage to about 355,986 houses and homesteads and destroyed an estimated 944,989 hectares of farmland.

“With sufficient preparation and collaboration between federal and state governments, Nigeria can mitigate the loss of life and the socio-economic hardships caused by recurring flooding,” he said.

The House urged the Federal Government to liaise with relevant agencies to ensure relocation of citizens from flood-prone areas.

Meanwhile, the lawmakers also urged the Federal Government to urgently implement palliative measures, to mitigate effects of fuel subsidy removal on Nigerians.

This was sequel to a motion of Urgent Public Importance, moved by Mr. Aliyu Madaki, representing Dala federal constituency of Kano State, at plenary.

According to him, as a result of the subsidy removal, the official pump price of petrol skyrocketed from initial N195 per litre to a whopping N480-N577 per litre, with prices varying between states.

He expressed concern that implication of over 200 per cent price adjustment is that nearly all prices of goods and services have drastically increased.

Also, following the resignation of Gbajabiamila, the incumbent, Tajudeen Abbas, has declared his seat vacant.

The declaration followed receipt of Gbajabiamila’s letter of resignation at plenary.

Abbas, after receiving the letter and reading it to members, said: “We have, today, declared the seat of Surulere Lagos constituency vacant, following the resignation of Gbajabiamila.”