RMAFC Data Verification: Nwifuru Solicits Disaster Fund for Ebonyi
Governor Francis Nwifuru has urged the federal government to include Ebonyi among key beneficiary states of the Natural Disaster fund to mitigate the negative impacts of rain and thunder storms, flooding and environmental degradation resulting from mining activities.
The Governor made the appeal when he received Members of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission's data verification team in his office on Monday.
The team led by Henry Awuregu, was in the State for the 2026 Data Verification Exercise being carried out across the states of Nigeria.
Addressing the visitors, Governor Nwifuru informed them that Ebonyi state is faced with a lot of natural disasters requiring urgent assistance from the federal government, including wind and thunderstorms damaging buildings, flood and other environmental hazards and degradation worsened by mining activities.
He said: "A lot of disasters have happened in this state. Just recently, wind and thunderstorm damaged almost all the building roofs inside this Government House, and this is costing us huge resources to rebuild.
"Unfortunately, mining pits impose serious environmental hazards which the state is remedying, yet we are not benefitting from them since mining licenses are not granted by the state government.This is why we are asking for the natural Disaster fund".
Governor Nwifuru observed that poor data collection inadvertently yields errors, which if relied upon could mislead. He however, reposed confidence in the calibre of the team members to deliver a fair job and expressed optimism that the data verification would boost the revenue allocation to the State.
"The confidence I have in the Commission is evident in the quality of people here, and I wish to state that the Commission has shown capacity and commitment in the discharge of its assignments.
"It will make sense if the already collected data which are no longer feasible will be updated and analysed to reflect current realities", the Governor enjoined.
Stating their mission earlier, the team lead, Awuregu explained that the visit is informed by the "ongoing National Data Verification Exercise of the RMFAC.
Awuregu, who represents Ebonyi state in the commission explained that revenue mobilisation is predicted on equity and fairness in sharing national resources.
"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.
"It therefore becomes imperative that the data underpinning these indices are periodically verified and updated to reflect present-day realities.
"The Commission deems it necessary to periodically validate the integrity and accuracy of the data that will ultimately inform the distribution of revenue across the Federation."
The team lead commended Governor Nwifuru for his giant developmental achievement in spite of Ebonyi being among the states with the lowest federal revenue allocation, ranking 33 out of the 36 states of the country.
"Your Excellency, we have moved round and seen your great transformation in the state and we commend your prudence for being able to achieve all these with your minimal allocation. " Awuregu said.
The Governor was joined in receiving the visitors by his Deputy, Princess Patricia Obila; the Secretary to the state government, Prof. Grace Umezurike; the State ALGON chairman, Chinedu Uburu; the state chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Stanley Okoro Emegha and some members of the state Executive Council.