Breaking! Buhari Sacks NEMA’s DG, Maihaja

Mustapha Maihaja, director-general of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has been fired by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The NEMA DG who was appointed in 2017. was removed yesterday in a statement issued by Willie Bassey, director of information at the office of the secretary to the government of the federation.

The reasons for sacking Maihaja were however not stated

Muhammadu Muhammed, a retired air vice marshal, was named as his immediate replacement with effect from April 30.

“The erstwhile Director General, Engr. Mustapha Y. Maihaja has been directed to handover all official matters to AVM Muhammadu Alhaji Muhammed (Rtd.) immediately,” the statement read.

“The President thanked the out-gone Director-General for his services and charged the new appointee to serve with diligence and commitment.”

Maihaja had in 2018 been accused by a house of representatives committee of allegedly misusing the sum of N1.6 billion meant for the purchase of relief materials.

The money, released to NEMA by the federal government in July 2017, was for intervention purposes for flood victims in 16 states.

The panel said Maihaja awarded contracts to some unqualified companies, an allegation he denied.