The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Adeleke’s spokesman, aide face IGP probe over ‘false’ allegations

    Adeleke’s spokesman, aide face IGP probe over ‘false’ allegations

    Spokesperson of governor, Ademola Adeleke of Osun State, Olawale Rasheed and Special Assistant on Media Monitoring, Akintunde Sherrif, have been dragged before the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, by ex-spokesman of Nigerian Senate, Ajibola Basiru, over false allegations.

    The Nation recalled that Rasheed had alleged that Basiru imported fake policemen into Osun State to cause unrest and arrest leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The allegation was also propagated on the social media handle of Sheriff last week. Meanwhile, Basiru denied the allegations.

    Basiru through his lawyer, Othuke Amata, then petitioned the newly appointed IGP to probe the two aides of the Osun State governor over defamation and cyber bullying, stating that the duo published malicious publication against him in deliberate and calculated attempt to soil his reputation and integrity.

    Read Also : Adeleke intervenes in dispute between IBEDC and Osun communities

    He said “We consider the allegations baseless, irresponsible and provocative statement as a serious criminal allegation against our clients and capable of causing a breach of public peace aimed at destabilising Osun State.

    “It is against this background that we consider this allegation as not one that could pass as careless political statements but weighty enough to warrant a thorough investigation by the Nigerian Police. We, therefore humbly urge your good office to commence a thorough investigation by inviting Akintunde Bello Sheriff to substantiate the allegations.

    “We urge you to also invite the spokesperson to the Governor of Osun State, one Olawale Rasheed because he issued a statement wherein he accused our client and the Nigerian Police Force of importing unauthorised policemen into Osun State to create confusion, mayhem and destabilise the peace and stability of the state.”

  • Russia: Wagner mercenaries halt advance on Moscow

    Russia: Wagner mercenaries halt advance on Moscow

    • Belarus President plays peacemaker, secures truce
    • US working ‘in close coordination’ with G7 allies

    He branded Progozhin’s insurrection   a “stab in the back” and a “betrayal”.

    He appealed to Russian military men and those “who have been drawn into this criminal gamble by deceit or threats,” to desist.

    His country, he said, was engaged in a historic struggle to safeguard its future while “repelling aggression from neo-Nazis and their masters” in the West.

    He added: “We are fighting for the lives and safety of our people, for our sovereignty and independence. For the right to be and remain Russia.”

    Announcing his offensive in the early hours of the day, Prigozhin, 62,said he had crossed into Russia with his forces to topple Moscow’s military leadership, saying he and his 25,000 fighters were ‘ready to die’.

    He said his forces, who have spearheaded much of Russia’s offensive in Ukraine, had entered the Rostov-on-Don and controlled its military sites.

    He said: “We are inside the (army) headquarters, it is 7:30 am (0430 GMT).

    “Military sites in Rostov, including an aerodrome, are under control.”

    Prigozhin said planes taking part in the Ukraine offensive “are leaving as normal” from the airfield, and called on Russians not to believe what they were being told on state television.

    “A huge amount of territory is lost. Soldiers have been killed three, four times more than it says in documents shown to the top (leadership).”

    He had on Friday accused the Russian Defense Ministry of launching a deadly missile strike on a Wagner Group camp, vowing retaliation. The ministry, however, dismissed the allegation, describing it as “an information provocation.”

    The Russian authorities later said that they had opened a criminal investigation into the Wagner chief for allegedly calling for an armed rebellion.

    Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov had informed Putin of “the initiation of a criminal case in connection with an attempt to organise an armed rebellion”, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

    Biden speaks with Scholz, Macron and Sunak about Russian situation

    U.S. President Joe Biden called up German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak,to discuss the development in Russia, according to the White House.

    The partners reaffirmed their “unwavering support” for Ukraine, a U.S. government statement said.

    Biden was also briefed in the morning by his national security team on developments in Russia, where a mercenary force is challenging the government.

    Other attendees included U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, and Secretaries of Defence and State Lloyd Austin, and Antony Blinken, the statement said.

    The whereabouts of Putin could not be ascertained yesterday soon after his broadcast.

    Reports said two presidential planes linked to him flew out of Moscow towards Tver and St Petersburg yesterday before switching off their transponders.

    Reportedly on board the aircraft were top Kremlin officials, including the Russian President. Other business planes were also seen making an exodus from the capital towards St Petersburg.

  • Fresh evacuation: 125 stranded Nigerians return from Sudan

    Fresh evacuation: 125 stranded Nigerians return from Sudan

    • Another batch expected today

    No fewer than 125 Nigerians were evacuated from Sudan on Saturday.

    The evacuees, which include 22 children and three students arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at about 5.30 pm on Saturday from Port Sudan.

    Over 2,000 Nigerians were evacuated from Sudan following the outbreak of war between the military led government and the paramilitary.

    The returnees were received by Mr. Onimode Bandele, Director Special Duties, National Emergency Agency, NEMA.

    Bandele also revealed that another batch would be arriving in the country today (Sunday).

    He said, “They have given us the go ahead to do two more flights. One arrived today, and we are expecting the last flight any moment from tomorrow.

    “On board today, we have 125 passengers, out of which three are the last batch of students. We had 22 children on board.

    “Well I want to thank the Federal government for giving NEMA the support and we promise as an agency to give the Federal Government the best of our output to ensure that our mandate is performed to the letter.”

  • Sudan conflict: Army outnumbered on Khartoum’s streets

    Sudan conflict: Army outnumbered on Khartoum’s streets

    The Sudanese army’s infantry battalions have hardly been present on the streets of Khartoum during the two months-long conflict that has raged in the country, leaving much of the capital under the control of the rival paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

    This is despite the fact that the army is made up of about 200,000 soldiers, roughly twice the size of the RSF.

    Yet the army is heavily outnumbered on the streets of Khartoum, as well as the two cities across the River Nile – Bahri and Omdurman.

    RSF fighters were initially moving the three cities in their armed pick-up vehicles, but they now mostly do so in ordinary cars.

    Huge numbers of people have complained on social media about the RSF stealing their cars from their homes. The suspicion is that the RSF is using them to avoid being hit by air strikes.

    With its airpower being its greatest strength, the military has been constantly carrying out strikes to weaken the RSF. Although they are believed to have killed hundreds of civilians, they have not prevented the paramilitaries from advancing in Khartoum, Bahri and Omdurman.

    In a serious blow to the army, RSF fighters carried out an assault earlier this month on al-Yarmouk, one of Sudan’s biggest military complexes, where arms were manufactured and stored.

    While a fire raged at the complex for days, the RSF declared that it had seized control of it, which was confirmed by local residents.

    The military, however, has not confirmed the loss of the complex.

    It launched a counter-offensive, but could only manage in briefly wresting control of a vitally important bridge that linked RSF fighters in Omdurman to those in Khartoum and Bahri.

    The RSF is also in control of other key sites in and around the three cities, including: the main oil terminal, which the paramilitaries have turned into their base, the state media’s headquarters, giving the RSF control of its radio airwaves, although the army has managed to retain control of the TV station by broadcasting from elsewhere, a large part of the presidential complex and much of the international airport, which has been shut since the conflict started.

    The headquarters of the spy agency was also said to have been occupied by the RSF early in the conflict, but it is unclear who is currently in control of it.

    The military is known to have held on to a few key places – the most important of which are its headquarters and the airbase in Wadi Saeedna, from where its fighter jets fly to hit the RSF.

    Troops have dug long and deep trenches to prevent the paramilitaries from overrunning the two locations.

    “Their attempt to attack us does not have any effect now. The shells they fire fall on trees, or are cold by the time they land on our side,” an officer said.

    History of racism

    About two million residents, out of around 10 million, have fled the once-peaceful cities, abandoning their homes, shops and offices. Some of them have been shelled and bombed, others have been occupied and ransacked, with air-conditioners and furniture among the items carted away by the RSF.

    For some, the failure of the infantry battalions to make significant battlefield gains is not surprising, as Sudan is not a democratic state with a well-trained professional army.

    The army – like many other sectors of society – is still bedevilled by Sudan’s history of racism, slavery and colonialism.

    It dates back more than two centuries when Ottoman and Egyptian conquerors established an army of slaves.

    Recruitment from mostly poor black African communities continued under British rule, and has remained so throughout the post-independence era. Some of the soldiers are, in fact, descendants of slaves.

    Under the three decades-long rule of ex-President Omar al-Bashir, black Africans were rarely accepted in Sudan’s military college, with applicants required to mention their ethnic groups.

    As a result, only a few have risen to senior ranks, with the army largely under the control of generals from the Arab and Nubian elites bordering Egypt.

  • Lagbaja picks new GOCs, others in army shake-up

    Lagbaja picks new GOCs, others in army shake-up

    • Charges them to redouble efforts to end terrorism

    Barely 24 hours after taking over the command of the Nigerian Army, the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja, has appointed new Principal Staff Officers (PSCs) General Officers Commanding (GOCs) and Commanding Officers.

    He has also charged them to redouble their effort and commitment to duty in ensuring the sustenance of the ongoing onslaught against terrorism, insurgency and other threats to national security.

    Those affected by the new redeployments, according to a statement issued by army spokesperson, Brig-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, include some PSOs of the Army Headquarters, GOCs, Corps Commanders, Commandants of training institutions, Brigade Commanders and Commanding Officers.

     The statement said the new development was part of the efforts of the new army leadership to reposition the Nigerian Army.

    It said: “Some of the senior officers appointed as PSOs of the AHQ include Maj-Gen. A.B. Ibrahim, who was posted from the Headquarters 3 Division NA to the Department of Policy and Plans (DAPP) and appointed Chief of Policy and Plans (Army); Maj-Gen. B.R. Sinjen posted from Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery (NACA) to the Department of Army Operations (DAOPs) and appointed Chief of Operations (Army); and Maj-Gen. O.R. Aiyenigba from Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police to Department of Army Standards and Evaluation and appointed Chief of Army Standards and Evaluation (Army).

     “Others are Maj-Gen. N.C. Ugbo from Nigerian Army Signals School to Department of Civil Military Affairs and appointed Chief of Civil Military Affairs; and Maj-Gen. E. Akerejola from Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport to Army Headquarters Department of Logistics as the Chief of Logistics (Army).”

     According to the statement, senior officers appointed as General Officers Commanding (GOCs) include Maj-Gen. B.A. Alabi from Army War College Nigeria (AWCN) to Headquarters 1 Division as GOC; Maj-Gen. A.E. Abubakar from Headquarters 7 Division to 3 Division as GOC 3 Division/Commander Operation Safe Haven (OPSH); and Maj-Gen. P.P. Mala, who was posted from Depot Nigerian Army to Headquarters 7 Division as GOC/ Commander Sector 1 Joint Task North East( NE) Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK).

     Others are Maj-Gen. G.U. Chibuisi from HQ Multinational Joint Task Force Ndjamena (MNJTF) to Theatre Command Joint Task Force NE Operation (OPHK) and appointed Theatre Commander; Maj-Gen. I.S. Ali redeployed from Theatre Command Joint Task Force NE OPHK to HQ MNJTF as the Force Commander; and Maj-Gen. E.A.P. Undiandeye whose redeployment from Martin Luther Agwai International Peacekeeping Centre to Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) as Chief of Defence Intelligence has been formalised.

     Senior officers appointed as Corps Commanders include Maj-Gen. O.O. Oluyede as the Commander Infantry Corps; Maj-Gen. M.G. Kangye from Department of Civil Military Affairs (DCMA) to Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Artillery and appointed Commander and Maj-Gen. A.A. Adeyinka from the Nigerian Army College of Logistics and Management (NACOLM) to Headquarters Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport and appointed Commander.

     Other senior officers also affected in the redeployment are Maj-Gen. K.O. Aligbe who was appointed as Commander Training and Doctrine Command; Maj-Gen. J.O. Ochai from Defence Headquarters to Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) and appointed Commandant; Maj-Gen. I.B. Maina posted from Department of Policy and Plans to Army War College Nigeria and appointed Commandant.

     Equally redeployed are Brig-Gen T.B. Ugiagbe who is appointed Acting Chief of Military Intelligence (Army); Brig.-Gen. O.G. Onubogu from Headquarters Infantry Corps Centre to Martin Luther Agwai International Peacekeeping Centre as Commandant, while Brig-Gen. N. Ashinze moves from Department of Civil Military Cooperation to Defence Intelligence Agency as Director Fusion.

  • Tinubu’s initiatives repositioned Nigerian economy in three weeks – AfDB boss

    Tinubu’s initiatives repositioned Nigerian economy in three weeks – AfDB boss

    • President welcomes bank’s $512m agric investment; departs for London on private visit

    The President of African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, has hailed President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu for taking initiatives that has repositioned the nation’s economy within his first three weeks in office.

    Speaking as a guest of Tinubu after the two-day summit on A New Global Financing Pact in Paris, France, the AfDB President thanked President Tinubu for the bold moves which he said had stimulated the appetite of investors from different parts of the world, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy and harmonisation of exchange rates.

    “I commend the President’s foresight, boldness and determination for macroeconomic policy direction by removing the fuel subsidy,’’ he said.

    “No bird can fly with its wings tied behind. All those steps are signals investors like.’’

    Adesina pledged that the AfDB would support the economic policies of the new administration in Nigeria, which he said had placed the people first in development targets.

    On his part, President Tinubu lauded the AfDB for supporting the growth of Nigeria’s agro-allied sector with $520 million investment in the development of agro-processing zones in the country.

    President Tinubu, according to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communication and Strategy, Mr Dele Alake, also praised the AfDB boss for further opening up the Nigerian economy for investments that provide job opportunities and reduction in poverty.

    Tinubu noted that the agro-industrial project has strengthened an area of the country’s competitive advantage even as he listed other areas of priority that require Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

    The President urged the bank to inject funds into projects that target women and youth empowerment while appreciating the AfDB boss for his vision in setting up a Youth Entrepreneurship Bank in Nigeria to provide credit, skills and other forms of support for young Nigerians.

    President Tinubu assured Dr Adesina that the Federal Government would provide all the necessary assistance to ensure sustenance of the projects, adding that electricity remained a priority area that needed urgent attention.

    In another meeting, President Tinubu received the executives of Airbus/ATR, assuring them that the aviation sector would be “streamlined for efficiency’’, especially in the maintenance of aircraft and training.

    Senior Vice President of Airbus/ATR, Public Affairs, Laurent Rahul Domergue, assured the President that the company was prepared to invest in the aviation sector, particularly in supplying planes to Nigeria.

    Following the conclusion of the Paris summit, President Tinubu has headed for London, the United Kingdom (UK), on a private visit.

    According to a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Special Duties, Communication and Strategy, Mr Dele Alake, President Tinubu, who was initially scheduled to return to Abuja after the Paris events, was expected to arrive in London yesterday.

    The statement, however, disclosed that the President would be back in Nigeria in time for the Eid-el-Kabir festival.

    “President Tinubu, who was initially scheduled to be back in Abuja on Saturday, will now proceed to London, United Kingdom, for a short private visit. 

    “The President will be back in the country in time for the upcoming Eid-el-Kabir festival,” the statement said.

     On the President’s outing in Paris, the statement said: “President Bola Tinubu on

    Friday concluded his official trip to Paris, France, during which he had an outstanding participation in the summit for ‘A New Global Financing Pact’ hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron.  

    “Aside his participation at the event where he represented Nigeria well, President Tinubu also held high-profile sideline meetings with fellow heads of state and government, global business leaders and chief executives of leading multilateral and development finance institutions from around the world.”

    “The summit afforded the President the opportunity of projecting, on a global stage, his advocacy for widening the fiscal space, economic justice for Africa as the world accelerates the pace of energy transition, and the urgency of addressing the pressing issues of poverty and climate change,” the statement said.

  • Why 9th NASS members, aides are yet toreceive N30b severance – Management

    Why 9th NASS members, aides are yet to
    receive N30b severance – Management

    • Says no definite day for payment

    The planned payment of over N30 billion as severance package to the immediate past members of the National Assembly and their 3000 plus aides will have to wait as the management of the legislative arm battles with the documentation of their replacements.

    The Nation gathered that the delay in the payment is causing some vexation among the intended beneficiaries.

    Apart from the severance entitlements which are already captured in the 2023 budget, the immediate past federal legislators in both chambers went home with official vehicles worth about N5.5 billion.

    An aide to one of the lawmakers told The Nation that they had been told to wait.

     “Usually, it takes till around November. But I heard it may not take that long this time,” the source said.

    National Assembly sources said the process of paying the severance allowance was ongoing but could not say precisely when the money might be paid.

    Read Also : NASS will back Tinubu to drive development- Akpabio

    “The allowances are still being processed. The aides will likely get payment by end of July. But for now, the allowance is not ready,” the source said.

    Director of Information of the National Assembly, Dr. Rawlings Agada, confirmed that the money had not been paid yet. But he said it was not a question of delay.

    Agada said: “The 9th session of the National Assembly just ended and there is a lot of reconciliation to be done before they can arrive at the amount to pay and the time to pay it.

    “You are talking about 469 lawmakers and over 2,345 legislative aides in the 9th National Assembly.

    “These are aides that were physically attached, not talking about the aides of the Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker and Deputy Speaker and other principal officers that you know are in numbers.

    “There is a lot of reconciliation they have to do before they come out with the final amount to be paid to aides.

    “Even when they were looking for appointments as aides, the appointment was not done within 24 hours. There was a process.

    “Even as I am speaking with you, the Finance Department is equally overwhelmed with processing the people that are coming in to enable them get salaries as and when due, because their salaries start from the day they come in.

    “We need to get them so that they start supporting the efforts of the lawmakers.

    “I don’t think there is any deliberate action to delay payments to the aides.

    “By the management I know, you know that the Clerk to the National Assembly was the Secretary to the last administration, which means he will give everybody what is due to them at the appropriate time.

    “It is process and the management is doing everything possible to pay. They have to reconcile all the records. It is not something that can be done in a jiffy because there are so many things that go with it.

    “The members are going through clearance because there are items that are personal to them apart from those that have been boarded over. It is just like you exit yourself from the school. You have to do clearance both at the Department, Library and Bursary. They need to collate all those information before they can arrive at the payment of allowances.

    “It is a process. There is nothing deliberate about it, because at the end of the day, we have a responsibility to account for all the money with the accounting officer.

    “We need to have a record, so that the auditors that are coming to check the books can have something to see

  • Varsities adopt 140 as minimum cut – off mark for 2023 admission

    Varsities adopt 140 as minimum cut – off mark for 2023 admission

    • 15 private universities pick 130-120 •Anambra indigene emerges UTME best

    Heads of universities on Saturday adopted 140 as the minimum cut – off mark for 2023 admission.

    The decision was reached at the 2023 policy meeting on admission guidelines organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board on Saturday in Abuja.

    During the meeting, Registrars of universities agreed that no university, except 15 private universities who picked 130 – 120, should go below the 140 marks adopted.

    Rectors of polytechnics adopted 100 as the minimum cut – off mark for admission.

    Also, 100  was adopted as the minimum point for admission into colleges.

    The decision was adopted by the Provost of colleges at the meeting.

    JAMB Registrar,  Prof. Ishaq Oloyede said institutions would not be allowed to go below the minimum points they have adopted for admission into programmes in their schools.

    The meeting agreed that students should not be cut off from admission as a result of their UTME score.

    It was agreed that students be allowed to take part in all the admission processes, with total score added before a decision on admission is taken.

    Meanwhile, JAMB has said that 557,626 candidates from 1.8 million applications have been admitted into tertiary institutions across the country in its 2022 admission processes.

    JAMB Registrar,  Prof. Ishaq Oloyede disclosed this yesterday while speaking  at the 2023 Policy Meeting on Admissions into Tertiary Institutions in Abuja.

     According to him, the 2022 admission process was  still ongoing owing to opportunities given to some key players in the sector to conduct admissions.

    He named Nkechinyere Umeh  from Anambra State as the best candidate in the  2023 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examinations (UTME) with a cumulative mark of 360.

    As at June 19, Oloyede said, tertiary institutions have admitted 557,626 candidates but “as we speak today, the admission is up to 600,000 as we target about 700,000. This is because admission is still ongoing,” he said.

    Speaking on gaps in admission vacancies and why candidates were not admitted, Oloyede said rigidity of programme choice and mismatch of demand and supply were responsible.

    He also listed lack of interest for existing vacancies and trail-candidates (No o’level results or awaiting results) as responsible for admission gaps in the tertiary institutions.

    He said it is the responsibility of the various institutions to determine the National Minimum Tolerable UTME score, often called the ‘cut-off marks’.

    Board considers use of personal devices for UTME

    A new policy to allow UTME candidates write the examinations with their personal phones and other devices is being considered by JAMB, the Registrar said.

    The proposed policy, Oloyede said, was based on the rising cost of logistics in taking the UTME nationwide.

    According to him, it cost the JAMB over N1.2billion to equip a Computer Based Test (CBT) centre in Kaduna State with much of the money spent on procuring computers for use by candidates .

    “The policy which falls under the ‘Bring Your Own Device’ may require candidates wishing to take UTME in the future to bring their own devices to the examination hall,” he said.

    At the policy meeting, the registrar expressed concern over the crave for university education among candidates at the detriment of polytechnics and colleges of education.

  • End of insurgency in sight – Buni

    End of insurgency in sight – Buni

    Yobe State  governor, Mai Mala Buni , has expressed confidence that the challenge of insecurity bedeviling the country would soon be a thing of the past.

    Buni based his optimism on the careful selection of new Security Chiefs by President Bola Tinubu. He said the move would get Nigeria closer to the end of security challenges.

    The governor  stated this in a statement by his Director-General, Press and Media Affairs, Alhaji Mamman Mohammed, on Saturday in Damaturu.

    He said the new National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu would bring his wealth of experience to bear in the fight against insecurity.

    “The Security Chiefs also have the wealth of experience and confidence of Nigerians to lead the fight against insecurity in Nigeria.

    “As people from the frontline states, we commend the federal government and the security agencies for the tremendous achievements recorded in the states.

    “We are optimistic that as active players who played key roles in the relative peace enjoyed in the states, the new Service Chiefs would add value to bring the insecurity challenge to a total halt.

    “They have at different times proved their worth and competence in various national assignments.

    “The President made the right choice and we will continue to support all security operations in our domain,” Buni was quoted as saying in the statement.

    While urging Nigerians to support the new service chiefs to succeed, Buni also  commended former President Buhari administration for equipping frontline troops and forging a new spirit in the nation’s security personnel, to see their assignment as a call to national duty.

    “These great efforts boosted the morale of the security forces to fight the insecurity scourge effectively, efficiently and with dexterity”.

  • Flood in Abuja estate regrettable, says Abbas

    Flood in Abuja estate regrettable, says Abbas

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas (PhD), has decried Friday’s flood incident that ravaged the Trademore Estate, Lugbe, Abuja leading to the destruction of property worth millions of Naira.

    The Speaker said it was highly regrettable that people going about their normal lives with their families found themselves in such a difficult situation.

    While holding its first plenary after that inauguration of the 10th Assembly, the House had called on relevant authorities and Nigerians to put measures in place to mitigate the effects of flooding in the country as predicted by government agencies.

    However, the Trademore Estate in the Lugbe area was submerged by  flood on Friday.

    The Speaker sympathised with the residents of the estate over the unfortunate incident.

    He recalled that relevant government agencies had before the rainy season alerted the public to the possibility of flood in some parts of the country, saying the public must heed such warnings.

    Speaker Abbas called on the authorities to swing into action to avert the reoccurrence of the incident.

    He reiterated the need for the public to take all necessary measures to avoid flood prone areas.

    The FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had on Friday said 116 houses were affected by the flood.