NEMA Boss, Mustapha Maihaja

The House of Representatives on Thursday, urged President Muhammadu Buhari, to relieve the Managing Director of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr Mustapha Maihaja of his duties over alleged mismanagement of resources.

This followed the adoption of a report of the House Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness at plenary.
According to Chairman of the committee, Rep. Ali Isa, based on the investigation conducted, it has been established that the Federal Government lost over N33 billion as a result of mismanagement by Maihaja.

“This is as a result of mismanagement or outright embezzlement of funds occasioned by actions or inactions of the Managing Director of NEMA, Mr Mustapha Maihaja,’’ Isa said.

He also expressed reservation over the handling of the 6,779 metric tonnes of rice donated for Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in the Northeast by the Chinese Government.

“On the issue of donation of 6,779 metric tonnes of rice by the Chinese Government for IDPs in the Northeast, the House condemned the negligence.”

“It also condemned the inefficiency of the Ministry of Budget and National Planning and NEMA for the long delay in the collection of the donated rice from the port terminal. The Committee therefore called on anti graft agencies to investigate and prosecute all those involved”.

“The ICPC, EFCC and Police should ensure recovery of the payment of about N800 million demurrage from the concerned officers of the Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Ministry of Agriculture and NEMA. They should further investigate the conflicting testimonies of the above agencies to determine whether there were multiple payments for the demurrage,” Isa said.

(NAN)