Stories by Etta Michael Bisong
A non-profit organisation known as Connected Development (CODE) has called on the Zamfara state government to release the sum of 120 million naira budgeted to facilitate the relocation of flood victims living in Gutsura, a small farming community in the state.
The community has since 2003 witness the devastating impact of flooding activities that displaced over 2,000 people, destroyed agricultural products and infrastructure estimated over 100 million naira in 2012. Similarly, in 2013 the disaster attacked the village but this time around claimed the life of a six year old boy and further limited the people’s access to clean portable water.
Remarking on the issue, AlhajiAtikuMaradun, the executive secretary, Zamfara State Emergency Management Agency (ZEMA) disclosed in an interview held in Gusau that the Zamfara state government would spend N200 million to relocate Gutsura village in Gumi local government council, due to persistent flooding.
Maradun said that the village consists of 570 households and has persistently been affected by flood disaster leading to destruction of crops, livestock and other properties.
He said: ‘’we have already proposed safer environment to relocate the village but we are waiting for money from the state government to enable us execute our project. We noticed that every year, during rainy season, water will cover the whole area, washing away the village crops and livestock.’’
Chief Executives of CODE, HamzatLawal, while commenting on the matter during Follow The Money Open Data Event in Abuja lamented the government insincerity to fulfill her promise of building houses and relocate the people of Gutsura to mitigate the impact of flood as 2014 raining season approaches.
‘’It is not news that previous funds provided by the Government get missing due to high rate of corruption and insensitivity from government,’’ Lawal said. ‘’This must not happen again as activists and the general public would engage government officials to ensure transparency in using the funds judiciously noting that a lot of life is at stake.
‘’The people of Gutsura village, as well as Nigerian tax payers deserve accountability in their public spending.’’
With support from The Indigo Trust, the Open Data event brought together activists from all works of life to enhance their skills on how to use tools effectively in tracking government fund and launch a social media campaign tagged #RelocateGutsura using social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, SMS & Blackberry Massager) in putting pressure on Zamfara state government to take immediate action to avert disaster as the raining seasons are here already. As momentum build up, within 24 hours, the Twitter storm has reach over 260,000 people all calling on the Zamfara state government to take adequate actions and respect the human right of Gutsura community.