The Adamawa State Executive Council, at its weekly meeting held on Monday, 23rd December, approved spending over N400 million on flood victims' relief and consultancy services for the development of the state's energy framework.
This is coming after a week, the State EXCO approved Phase 1 of the intervention fund of N238,750,000 to support 955 flood-affected households in the state.
The meeting, the 24th for the year 2024, was chaired by Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri at the Council Chambers, Government House, Yola.
Briefing Government House reporters after the meeting, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon. James Iliya, announced that the state Executive Council had approved the sum of N235,250,000 as an intervention fund for Phase II of relief efforts for flood victims in the state.
He explained that the fund was approved for the remaining 941 flood-affected households that were impacted in 2024. He added that the local government areas affected were: Numan, Lamurde, Demsa, Michika, and Madagali. He stated that this was aimed at providing shelter and support to the victims.
Honourable Iliya also announced that the state Executive Council had approved the employment of consultants for the development of the Adamawa State Energy Framework and Regulations.
He said the amount approved for the consultancy services of MSSR Frank Close Ltd was N198,814,463.25, with a completion period of six months.
Explaining further, the Commissioner for Works and Energy Development, Hon. Adamu Atiku, said the consultants would help develop the state's energy policy, an electricity act, and a legal framework. He added that this followed the presidential review of the state electricity act unveiled in June 2023, where the Federal Government mandated states to generate, distribute, and transmit electricity.
Honourable Adamu stated that for the state to achieve this, it was necessary for each state to establish its electricity agency, develop a policy, an operational framework, and a regulatory agency.
He noted that Adamawa State was endowed with abundant radiation in terms of sunlight and hydro resources. He emphasised that these potentials will attract more investors to come and invest in the state.
The Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Afraimu Jingi, announced that the state Governor, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, had created seven additional Chiefdoms and Emirates in the state, bringing the total number of Chiefdoms and Emirates in the state to 15.
According to Barrister Jingi, Section 5 of the Adamawa State Appointment and Deposition Law 2024 empowered the Governor to appoint and create Chiefdoms and Emirates.
He announced that the new Chiefdoms and Emirates created are:
The Hoba Chiefdom with headquarters at Hong – 2nd-Class Status
Madagali Chiefdom with headquarters at Gulak – 2nd-Class Status
Michika Chiefdom with headquarters at Michika – 2nd-Class Status
Fufore Emirate with headquarters at Fufore – 2nd-Class Status
Gombi chiefdom with headquarters at Gombi – 3rd-Class Status
Maiha Emirate with headquarters at Maiha – 3rd-Class Status
Yungur Chiefdom with headquarters at Dumne – 3rd-Class Status
He urged those who had applied and had not yet received approval to exercise patience, stating that the creation of new Chiefdoms and Emirates was a gradual and ongoing process. He assured those who had applied that approvals would be granted based on merit.
He urged the citizenry to embrace peace within the newly created Chiefdoms and Emirates.