The House of Representatives has called on the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA to urgently provide relief materials such as food, clothes, food and medical supplies to the internally displaced persons, IDPs in the Boko Haram ravaged Chibok Local Government Area of Borno State.
The House also commended the Nigerian Army for their services and sacrifice and called on them to do more as they continue to protect vulnerable attacks by the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents.
This resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by Asabe Bashir(APC, Borno) on Tuesday during plenary.
Asabe decried the despicable activities of Boko Haram insurgents in the northeast region of Nigeria, particularly Borno State where several lives have been lost, property destroyed and citizens have been displaced from their homes.
She noted that, “even though the insurgents have been largely neutralized, they still launch attacks in vulnerable communities, primarily to terrorize locals, rob them of their possessions and destroy houses in their wake.
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“On Thursday, the 28th of March, 2019 the insurgents attacked Gatamwarma Village in Chibok LGA of Borno State without resistance between 5pm and 9pm. They burnt 101 houses, carted a away livestock and food items worth millions of Naira, killed 1 person and left may injured.
“The inhabitants of Gatamwarma Village have been displaced and have taken refuge in Chibok town as well as neighbouring LGAs particularly Damboa and Askira Uba LGAs.
“On Monday, 1st of April, 2019, the insurgents attacked another village, Kaumutayahi still in Chibok Local Government Council but were repelled by the swift intervention of the Nigerian Army with the aide of local hunters.
“Despite the resistance met by the insurgents, they succeeded in snatching several livestock and food items while burning one house in the community. Luckily, no life was lost.
“Displaced locals in Chibok are stranded, suffering and in dare need of assistance like shelter, clothing, food, medical supplies and other relief materials”.
Also at the Tuesday plenary, the House mandated the Committees on Public Procurement and Power to jointly investigate the above allegations and report back to it in two weeks.
This was sequel to the motion of urgent public importance on the need for urgent investigation into allegations of gross statutory breaches including violation of the public procurement act by the management of the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading PLC, NBET moved by Muhammad Musa (PDP, Kaduna).
Musa argued that as wholly owned Federal Government Company, NBET is required to under section 15(1)(a) and (b) of the Public Procurement Act 2007 in all its procurement but contrary to the provisions of act, the Management of NBET has executed power purchase agreements and initiated the performance and implementation of its terms in total disregard for due process resulting to over N90 billion lose by the federal government.
According to him, “most contractors and vendors engaged by NBET are not registered with the Bureau of Public Procurement, neither are they registered with on the National Database of Federal Constructors, Consultants and Service Providers which is in gross violation of the provisions of the act.
“If urgent steps are not taken to investigate these allegations and address any proven infractions, an institutional system of manipulation of the procurement process would have been created and awkward situation would have created which will lead to further financial losses to the Federal Government of Nigeria”.
James Kwen, Abuja
