Gov Nwifuru Urges FG to Create Natural Disaster Fund for Ebonyi

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The Governor of Ebonyi State, Francis Nwifuru, has called on the Federal Government to create a natural disaster fund for the state to mitigate the impact of disasters on the people.

He made the appeal when he received members of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMFAC) who were in the state for the 2026 data verification exercise.

In a press statement released on Monday, Nwifuru told the team that a lot of natural disasters had befallen the state, requiring urgent assistance from the Federal Government.

“A lot of disasters have happened in this city. Wind and thunderstorms unroofed almost all the buildings inside this Government House. The natural disaster is costing us huge resources to rebuild,” Nwifuru said.

“Unfortunately, mining pits impose serious environmental hazards which the state is remedying, yet we are not benefiting from them since mining licenses are not granted by the state government. And so this is why we are asking for the natural disaster fund.”

He expressed optimism that the ongoing nationwide revenue data collection would boost the revenue accruing to the state.

Governor Nwifuru observed that poor data collection inadvertently yields errors, which, if relied upon, mislead, but expressed confidence in the calibre of members of the RMFAC team.

“The confidence reposed in the Commission is evident in the quality of people here because the Commission has shown capacity and commitment in the discharge of their assignments,” he added.

Earlier, the team leader, Henry Awuregu, who represents Ebonyi State in the RMFAC, said revenue mobilisation is predicated on equity and fairness in sharing national resources.

“The revenue allocation system in Nigeria is built on a set of indices that seek to ensure fairness, equality, and justice in the sharing of national resources. Over time, however, socioeconomic realities evolve, where population dynamics change, infrastructure expands, developmental gaps shift, and new challenges emerge,” Awuregu said.

“It therefore becomes imperative that the data underpinning these indices are periodically verified and updated to reflect present-day realities.”

Sources: Channels TV