By Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja, Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt, Mike Odiegwu, Port Harcourt, Nwanosike Onu, Awka and Simon Utebor, Yenagoa

It would be impossible to measure the damage done by flooding to public infrastructure until the waters recede, the Federal Government said yesterday.

The government noted that the flood had started disrupting logistic movements, Works and Housing Minister Babatunde Fashola, told State House reporters after yesterday’s Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Fashola said: “At this stage, it is difficult to quantify the damage to the roads and that’s because the flood is still receding. It’s when all of that is gone that we can really see how much damage has been done. The impact is that just like in any situation of extreme weather conditions, travel logistics are hampered, so some of the roads are difficult to traverse.

“It has caused some backlog in logistic movements; we are already seeing some disruptions in the supply chain, like fuel and some other things. We hope that when the water fully recedes, we will see the full extent of the damage.

“But we are already planning our ‘Ember’ months’ movement, which we do in the last quarter of the year.  That will take into consideration any damage that has been done and we’ll try and remedy as much of it as resources and time allow us, so that we prepare for that heavy movement period during the festive period”, Fashola said.

In Rivers State, Governor Nyesom Wike approved N1 billion for emergency relief measures to support flood victims in Ahoada West and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Areas.

Read Also; Flooding to cause Nigeria, others $535b losses yearly

The governor, who empathised with the victims, also set up a task force to coordinate the distribution of relief materials to affected communities in the state.

Wike said the money would enable vulnerable families, particularly in Ahoada West and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni to cope with the flood, which had devastated homes, and farmlands and forced residents of affected communities to relocate to safer places.

The governor said the Permanent Secretary, Special Services Bureau (SSB), in the Office of the Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Dr. George Nwaeke, would serve as the chairman of the task force.

All members of the Taskforce are to meet with the Rivers State governor at the Government House, Port Harcourt today.

Wike also appointed 28, 000 special assistants for political units in the state and the appointments were to take immediate effect.

Also in Rivers, an All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart, Perekeme Kpodoh, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to desist from releasing ecological funds to state governors.

Kpodoh said that the effect of floods was enough evidence that ecological funds were being misapplied by the governors.

In Anambra State, thousands were trapped when the bridge linking seven communities in Ogbaru Local Government Area, collapsed early yesterday.

The affected communities are Umunankwo, Mputu, Ogwuaniocha, Ossomala, Obeagwe, Akili Ogidi and Ogwuikpele.

One of the residents, Eze Ogbugbulu, told The Nation that the bridge had been wobbling since last weekend adding that they were in a terrible situation.

In Bayelsa, Governor Douye Diri said his government felt the pain and suffering of communities and individuals affected by the floods in the state.

Diri promised to give top priority to alleviating their suffering.

He spoke during the 90th State Executive Council Meeting held inside the Executive Chambers of Government House, Yenagoa.

In Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said the ongoing demolition of structures blocking waterways would continue beyond the rainy season to prevent flooding in the territory.

The Director-General of FEMA, Abbas Idriss stated this at a news conference to kick-start activities to mark the 2022 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction.

Idriss said that the major cause of floods in the FCT was human-induced activities, adding that the agency was able to mitigate the impact of the perennial heavy floods associated with areas like Lugbe Trademore Estate, Dutse, Nyanyan, EFAB Estate Lokogoma and Apo -Dutsen.

He said: “You could see that this year’s rain started in Abuja on May 24 precisely and up till now, we are experiencing rainfall and we are going to experience more rainfall between now and November.

“Not only rainfall, we are also expecting the usual flash flooding,  but we give glory to God that no life was lost in FCT due to flood this year.”