THE interim funds the Federal Government released for flood victims throughout the country should be used judiciously, to ameliorate the sufferings unprecedented flooding unleashed on the country. How far the N17.6 billion President Goodluck Jonathan, announced would go, is not as important as the immediacy of the intervention and preventive measures against flooding.

Activation of more funding began with the inauguration of a National Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation to assist the Federal Government raise funds to mitigate the pains and ensure the effective post-impact of rehabilitation of victims.

The floods were the worst in decades. There are predictions of more flooding, which means a lot of work still needs to be done to ensure future occurrences are handled better than the overwhelming incidents that hit most parts of the country.

Nigerians are already concerned that the money allocated to states and some federal agencies, may not be spent in meeting the needs of the flood victims. They are relying on experience. The low level of accountability in governments could see the funds disappear.

How would the states deploy the N13.3 billion the Federal Government released to them? Will the money be for relief materials or the rehabilitation of the affected communities? The extent of the devastation varies from state to state, just as the losses are different in the affected communities. It would be tasking to find an equitable system for allocating the funds to the needs of the communities, but it should not be the reason for the authorities not trying. Accountability is important, without allowing bureaucracies to consume the funds.

Some of the states are already complaining about the funds being inadequate. They should augment from their own resources, and like the Federal Government, they should mobilise local resources for the work ahead.

The N4.3 billion allocated to the federal agencies — Ministry of Works, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Ministry of Environment, National Commission for Refugees, and the Technical Committee on Flood’s Impact Assessment — should come under similar scrutiny otherwise the funds could be wasted.

Perhaps, more resources should be allocated to the Technical Committee on Flood’s Impact Assessment whose report will be used to combat future floods.

“When we receive the committee’s final report, the Federal Government will further initiate medium and long term measures to check future flood disasters,” the President said. The future demands a definite action against flooding, which by extension would mean attention to climate and its consequences.

More practical approaches like re-visiting construction of dams planned almost 40 years ago could save Nigeria more devastating loss of lives and property. We hope the flooding would not be forgotten once the waters recede.