The National Economic Council on Thursday approved N83.21bn for the implementation of an Anticipatory Action Task Force to mitigate the impact of flooding and other climate-related disasters nationwide.
This came as the Council held its 158th meeting presided over by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, who briefed State House correspondents alongside other governors, said the Council approved N83.21bn after receiving an initial request of N166.42bn tabled by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu.
According to Otu, “The purpose of the request was to seek the consideration of the council for the approval and disbursement of funds through the Federal Account Allocation Committee to facilitate the implementation of the approved Anticipatory Action Task Force interventions aimed at mitigating the impact of anticipated flooding and other climate-related agencies across the country.
“We know that flooding now is almost a recurring decimal, and the Federal Government was very happy that we are putting some retroactive steps to make sure that the mitigation comes on in time to save the states,” he added, noting that states historically prone to flooding were specifically mentioned during deliberations.
