A human rights activist, Femi Falana, has called on the Federal Government and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe the mismanagement of the ecological fund.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said this in a statement from his chambers signed by Tayo Soyemi and delivered at a convocation lecture at Augustine University, Ilara, Epe, Lagos.
Expressing concern over the impact of the flood on communities, Falana stated that it is wrong for the Muhammadu Buhari-led government to tell citizens to hold state governments to account in event of a national disaster.
He said, “The mismanagement of ecological fund is a crime against humanity because it is responsible for the loss of many lives, displacement of millions of people, and destruction of properties worth trillions of Naira.
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“Before the proposed probe by the EFCC, the federal government should come to the aid of the affected state governments. However, the EFCC should probe the involvement of officials of the federal government and state governments.
“In particular, the federal government has failed to release money from the ecological fund to the affected states. On their own part, the various state governments have equally failed to provide relief materials for the victims.
“During the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government did not ask the citizens to hold the state governments to account for funds meant for building and equipping hospitals.
“Instead of inciting citizens to demand an explanation which will be ignored by state governments, the federal government should submit a petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for the investigation of the mismanagement of the ecological fund which is a crime against humanity.”
He blasted the Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, for describing the floods as an act of God and lamented the ongoing campaign despite the havoc the flood has caused.
Falana asked the government to ensure that measures to mitigate flooding become a priority.