NEMA DISCLAIMS FRAUDULENT ENUMERATION EXERCISE IN JIGAWA STATE, WARNS PUBLIC AGAINST IMPERSONATORS

By Pan Afric Reporters

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has disowned an unauthorised enumeration exercise allegedly targeting disaster-affected persons in Maigatari Local Government Area of Jigawa State, warning residents against impersonators demanding personal information or payments under the guise of humanitarian assistance.

In a public notice, the Agency said it had received reports that some individuals were falsely presenting themselves as NEMA personnel and conducting the exercise without its authorisation. It clarified that those involved were neither members of its staff nor authorised representatives.

NEMA explained that all legitimate enumeration, assessment and registration exercises follow established procedures and are conducted in collaboration with state governments through their respective State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs).

The Agency warned that any exercise conducted outside these procedures was unauthorised and invalid, urging residents of the affected communities to disregard the purported registration.

“The public, particularly residents of the affected communities, are therefore advised to disregard the purported exercise and to refrain from providing personal information or making any form of payment to the impersonators,” the notice stated.

It cautioned that the individuals might be exploiting the needs of disaster-affected persons by falsely promising registration or eligibility for humanitarian support.

The Agency reiterated its commitment to transparency, accountability and integrity in the discharge of its humanitarian responsibilities, assuring Nigerians that legitimate interventions are carried out through due process and by duly authorised personnel.

NEMA urged members of the public to exercise caution when approached by individuals claiming to represent the Agency and to avoid disclosing sensitive information or making payments in connection with unverified relief registration exercises.