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Tag: flood

  • Flood renders many homeless in Kogi

    Hundreds of people in areas of Lokoja, the Kogi State capital and other parts of the confluence state, have been forced out of their homes as rising water levels continue to encroach on residences.

    The unprecedented rainfall has brought untold hardship as families are driven from their homes.

    The situation, it is predicted, could worsen if water from the Lagdo Dam, in Cameron, is released, a scenario which the people of Kogi pray not to happen.

    In Adankolo, residents whose homes have been overtaken by the flood, continue to move out in droves, while others yet to be affected, are not taking chances.

    Hundreds of residents of Ganaja village, in Ajaokuta Local Government Area are also facing similar situation, haven been rendered homeless by flood.

    Aside living houses, shops and other commercial buildings have been affected by the flood, even as the water level continue to rise.

    The state government has however commenced the distribution of foodstuffs and other relief items to the flood victims in IDPs camps across the state.

    The Kogi State Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Sanusi Yahaya, told newsmen at the inauguration of the distribution in Lokoja, that the distribution of the foodstuffs was the first stage.

    He noted that the National Emergency Maintenance Agency (NEMA) had also supplied some relief items, including mattresses, blankets and mats, to be distributed to the flood victims.

    In addition, the state government procured food items for the victims to enable them feed in the camps.

    According to the commissioner: “This is just the first batch of the distribution. More are still coming, because His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello, has approved the release of fund to get more foodstuffs.”

    He appealed to individuals, corporate organisations and professional bodies to come forward and assist the flood victims, saying that government cannot not do it alone.

  • Flooding: APC UK expresses readiness to assist victims

    The United Kingdom chapter of the All Progressives Congress ( APC ) says it is ready to give some form of assistance to victims of recent flooding that occurred in some states of the federation.

    Mr Jacob Ogunseye, the chapter’s acting Publicity Secretary made this known in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.

    According to him, the decision to offer help to the flood victims was taken at a strategic meeting of the chapter.

    He condoled with President Muhammadu Buhari and the entire nation over the loss of lives and property following the flooding caused by rains that resulted to Rivers Niger and Benue to overflow.

    He also commended President Buhari for declaring a state of emergency in affected states by releasing #3 billion naira to help victims, noting that the vast areas affected were farmlands and residential communities.

    NAN reports that Niger, Kogi, Anambra, and Delta states had been declared as ‘National Disasters’ by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

    Taraba Adamawa, Kebbi, Edo, Rivers, Benue, Bayelsa and Kwara states were also being monitored carefully by NEMA.

    The statement quoted Mr Ade Omole, the chapter’s leader as saying “we will be ready to deploy an up-to-date technology hardware and software in preventing and controlling floods in Nigeria if given the opportunity.

    “We will do all within our abilities to ensure that adequate technology is deployed to forewarn likely or future occurrence of down pour in these areas to ensure safety of lives of property.

    Omole noted that while homes had been destroyed and farmlands washed away, there was need to cooperate with governments to address the situation, adding that these were indeed trying periods.

    He, therefore, called on well meaning Nigerians and organisations across the country and the world to rise up at this challenging moment to help the flood victims.

    “Our show of unity is now; we should all set aside our political affiliation and come together as a united country to ensure that victims are not abandoned to suffer the effect of the current disaster.

    Read Also: Osun: Confusion in SDP, ADP, ADC over ‘alliance’

    “We should help in any way in ensuring that affected persons get needed assistance, especially medical, housing and clean water, Omole said.

    NAN reports that the Ecological Fund Office had, however, embarked on the inauguration of about 70 ecological intervention projects in flood prone communities across the country`s six geo-political zones.

    The interventions by the Ecological Fund Office in affected communities was to solve problems that had given concern to citizens whose means of livelihood and properties were being threatened by desertification, flooding and disastrous gully erosion.

    Vice President Yeti Osinbajo’s had since visited some affected flood communities in Anambra and Delta states to sympathise with victims.

  • Flood: ‘Why we don’t want to relocate to IDP camps’

    As flood continues to ravage many communities in Anambra State following steady downpour, many affected communities have refused to heed to the call by the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to relocate to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.

    As a result of the natural disaster, socio-economic activities have been completely shut down in the affected communities, while those residing in areas yet to be affected were sleeping with one eye closed.

    No fewer than 10 communities in Anambra West Local Government Area alone have been submerged by the flood.

    Even when few simply relocated to neighbouring towns yet to be affected, and some to upland within the community, majority are still trapped in their locations.

    Southeast Report reliably gathered that the refusal of the residents to heed to the call by the SEMA may not be unconnected with the cost implications of relocation.

    Those who spoke to our correspondent lamented the distance of the camps from the communities as well as the condition of the camps.

    They said some of the IDP camps were under construction, appealing to government to set up emergency response unit in the area.

    The President-General of Innoma Community, Mr Patrick Ugboja, said his community was in dire need of emergency intervention to avoid loss of lives.

    He said many residents of the area could not afford the cost of relocation to various IDP camps set up by state government as the camps were far from the communities.

    “We appeal to NEMA/SEMA and the state government to assist in relocating us to IDP camps, which are far from us as most of us cannot afford the cost of transporting ourselves there,’’ Ugboja said.

    Also speaking, President-General of Nzam Communnity, Prince Uche Okolo, lamented that about 40 per cent of the community’s landmass had been taken over by flood.

    “Most of our people affected have been relocated to dry lands not yet affected. Our farms and crops have been completely destroyed,’’ he said.

    According to him, their IDP camp was undergoing construction, even as he called for an emergency response unit to rescue people who might be trapped.

    In Olumbanasa Community, which is made up of Odeh, Odekpe, Igbokenyi, and Egbede villages, schools, churches and farmlands were adversely affected.

    President-General of the community, Mr Lawrence Nnachor, revealed that farm produce and economic trees worth millions of naira had been destroyed by the disaster.

    He noted that Odeh village was the most affected by the ravaging flood, appealing to government to assist in relocating inhabitants of the community.

    At Umueze Anam, virtually 60 per cent of households and farm lands have been affected.

    A community leader in the area, Mr Chinwuba Muoba said: “The flood is coming with high current and about 60 per cent of houses in our community are completely submerged.

    “Most of the people affected have relocated to neighbouring towns yet to be affected, while some have relocated to upland within the community.

    He explained that they were not ignorant of the holding centres within the locality, but said they were yet to move because the volume of flood had not reached alarming proportions.

    On his part, a counsellor in Mmiata Anam, Mr Osita Uduaka, Ifite-Anam, Mmata, Umuoba-Abegu and Iyioraa, described the flood as serious threat to their lives as appreciable percentage of inhabitants had already been affected.

    “We appeal to government to evacuate our people in case of emergency,’’ Uduaka said.

    Southeast Report further gathered that five communities-Ezi-Anam, Umuikwu, Umudora, Umuewelum-Anam and Oroma-Etiti-Anam have been completely submerged by the flood as the inhabitants were spotted vacating the areas.

    The story was not different in Igala-speaking communities of the council area where not less than 80 per cent of Innoma residents had their farmlands and household items destroyed by the raging flood.

  • NEMA’s impactful outings on disaster management

    These are indeed trying times. The floods are here again, and as usual, thousands are affected. Homes have been destroyed, farms have been washed away, and the list goes on. While it is succinct to state that just like in other climes where natural disasters such as hurricane, earthquakes, and floods have continued to wreak havoc, the responses of disaster management agencies come to bear in no small measure in cushioning effects and giving those affected a sense of belonging and a life afterward.

    And this brings us to the recent flooding experienced in some parts of Nigeria as a result of heavy rainfalls that causes rivers Niger and Benue to overflow. As at the last count, Niger Kogi, Anambra, and Delta states have been declared as National Disasters by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). It is also understood that Taraba Adamawa, Kebbi, Edo, Rivers, Benue, Bayelsa and Kwara states are being monitored carefully by NEMA.

    In this regard, I will start on a high note. The preparedness and responses by NEMA have been excellent in my opinion. I recall when the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency issued a warning that Rivers Benue and Niger had almost reached levels that resulted in flooding in 2012, NEMA issued a statement informing Nigerians on its preparedness for the flooding and it also consequently issued precautionary information to these communities.

    Now, this is why I decided to pen this article. Kogi state is among the worst hit states and as at the last time I checked, the director general of NEMA, Engr. Mustapha Maihaja has somewhat relocated to Kogi state. This was aside from the fact that he had held series of meetings with stakeholders to assess the reports from the fact-finding committees that visited flood-prone states after the warning by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency. I was more than impressed, and in my opinion, this was indeed a proactive approach and a radical departure from that norm that placed so much emphasis on reactionary activities.

    I stand to be corrected, NEMA in the past two years had indeed shown how and what it meant to have a disaster management agency in a country. This is in line with the adoption of the preventive disaster management operations introduced into the agency by the director general, Engr. Mustapha Maihaja. I also recall that sometime in 2017, while addressing the 2017 General Session of the Global Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in Cancun, Mexico, the DG was quoted as saying “support from the political leadership in Nigeria has enabled a giant stride towards ensuring appropriate actions on reducing risks, disaster preparedness, mitigation and recovery in the country. He also said the Federal Government has empowered and equipped NEMA to comprehensively manage disasters in Nigeria, with a fully functional Department of Disaster Risk Reduction already created in the agency.

    Now, this was why I wasn’t surprised and also impressed with the responses of NEMA in recent times in disaster management in Nigeria. Hear what the DG has to say: “President Muhammadu Buhari approved N3 billion for the first stages of preparedness, response disaster mitigation and it was on that note that stakeholders under the coordination of NEMA had activated a National Contingency Plan, a policy document, which gives NEMA the power to establish operational structure. An operational structure has been put in place with a National Emergency Operational Centre domiciled at the NEMA headquarters and five Zonal Emergency Operational Centres (EOC).”

    I am left in awe whenever I hear the DG of NEMA speak on issues concerning disaster management. His grasp and understanding thrill me, so much so that I have told all that cared to listen that one of the best decision of President Muhammdu Buhari was to have appointed a highly detailed and competent individual to head NEMA. And why they would always ask me.

    The reason is simple. Which category of people is mostly affected by disasters? The answer is obvious, and that is mainly why I am in praise of President Muhammdu Buhari because he has demonstrated that this is a government that is concerned about the ordinary Nigerians unlike in times past where our inefficiency in disaster management results in loss of lives and wanton destruction of properties.

    Back to the crux of the issue, NEMA’s outings in disaster management in the past two years can best be described as impactful. It is instructive to state that DG has visited almost all parts of the country that has in one way or the other experienced any form of disaster, be it human-made or natural for on the spot assessment and also leading rescue and relief operations. For example, the DG of NEMA was on the ground during rescue operations when a building collapsed in Abuja recently. He was also in Benue during the September 2017 flood that affected scores of villages in the state. And the list goes on.

    Read Also: NEMA warns of impending flooding in 12 states

    In my opinion, what this signifies or indicates is that there is a government that cares and holds that critical constituency so dearly and the need for them to feel the impact of his administration. This is even aside from the efforts of NEMA in assisting the Nigeria military in the resettlement of thousands of Nigerians that were displaced as a result of the insurgency in North East Nigeria. It also suffices to state that under this arrangement, thousands of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have successfully returned to their communities. This is also commendable.

    The list can go on without end. But what is instructive and a takeaway from the activities of NEMA is that once there is a will, there would always be a way. This much the DG of NEMA has demonstrated with the support he has received from the political authorities. And if most political office holders exhibit this much patriotism, Nigeria would indeed be better for it.

    Adamu is a public affairs analyst and contributed this piece from Abuja

  • Flood claims 53 lives in Katsina, Kaduna states in four months

    The North West zone of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said  yesterday that 53 lives were lost to floods in Katsina and Kaduna states over the last four months.

    30 other  people were reported missing during the same period in the two states ,according to Mr Ishaya Chonoko, North West Zonal Coordinator of the agency.

    The floods did not spare Edo,Delta,Kwara and Kogi, among other states .

    Chonoko told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna that  the agency recorded 51 deaths in Katsina State, two in Kaduna State, while 30 persons were confirmed missing in Jibiya, a border town in Katsina State.

    The floods occurred between May 3 and September 8 in 29 local government areas (LGAs) of the two states.

    Chonoko said a total of 12, 041 persons and 262 houses were affected in Katsina State, while 3,775 houses and 7,929 farmlands were similarly affected in Kaduna State.

    He listed the affected areas in Kaduna State as Abubakar Kigo Road, Tudun wada, Malali and Ungwar Rimi in Kaduna North.

    Others are: Barnawa in Kaduna South; Karatudu, Narayi, Rido village, Goningora and Sabon Tasha in Chikun; Hayin Na’iya, Rafin Guza, Hayin Dan- Mani and Kawo in Igabi LGAs.

    Areas in Katsina State included Malumfashi, Kafur, Bakori, Kusada, Kankai, Rimi, Musawa, Daura, Baure, Maiaduwa, Dutse – ma, Batsari, Kaita, Zango, Sandamu, Kurfi and Faskari LGAs.

    Chonoko said the agency had distributed relief materials to victims of the flood in the state.

    He said blankets, corn, rice, mattresses, cement and detergents were distributed because these were the immediate needs of the victims.

    The agency attributed the flood to blocked drainages, construction of structures along water channels and illegal mining along river banks.

     

    Kwara communities count losses after flooding

    Floods resulting from penultimate Thursday’s torrential rains  wreaked havoc in many parts of Kwara State including Ilorin,the state capital.

    Most  affected were Harmony Estate, Akerebiata, Gerin

    Alimi, Isale Koko and Kulende, all in Ilorin.

    Several  vehicles were swept away while houses and shops  were submerged.

    Over 72 communities in the riverine area of the Edu Local Government Area of the  state were similarly affected.

    These include Kpasha, Pututa, Lalagi, Yikpata and Belle.

    Thousands of residents were rendered homeless.

     

    Edo victims  refuse to leave communities

    Hundreds of flood victims in  over 14 communities in Edo State are refusing  to move into the resettlement centres  built by the Federal Government in 2012 and five other centre provided by local government authorities

    They say they cannot leave their ancestral land for a place they will have to depend solely on government for their basic needs.

    The communities include Udaba, Ofukpo, Agbaburu, Osomegbe, Ukpeko, Ugochi, Ifeku Island and Anegbette.

    Over 12,000 residents were affected and the people opted to live in tree houses and devised means to survive on the water.

    Schools and health centres in the communities have been shut.

    Mr. Johnson Agadaga, who was seen harvesting cassava, told reporters that he would not leave his farm and community because of flood.

    He said he and his family would survive.

    Chairman of Estako Central, Mr. John Akhigbe, who visited the communities with the aid of a speed boat asked the federal government to send relief materials to the people.

    Akhigbe stated that some of the affected communities promised to leave on Sunday after harvesting their corps.

     

    Delta victims seek succour on higher grounds  

    Hundreds of  Abuta residents in Asaba, Delta State capital,  have  fled to higher grounds as rising floods continue  to ravage their homes.

    The Abuta community, which lies on the banks of the River Niger, is currently under threat of being washed away.

    The  flood sacked residents in the early hours of yesterday following a torrential rainfall.

    Most of the submerged houses have been deserted by their occupants who were said to have mobilised wooden boats and tricycles to evacuate their property.

    Although no life was lost to the flood, many churches including Pasture of Life were submerged under water, while two other churches, including Celica Church of Christ and a branch of Deeper Life are under threat of being washed away.

    Workers at the Pasture of Life Church were busy salvaging church’s property as they were dismantling the air conditioners mounted on the walls of the building.

    A resident in the area, who simply identified herself as Mama Faith, lamented that her children had not eaten for about 24 hours since  the flooding incident, adding that there was simply no place to set up fire for cooking.

     

    No relief in sight in Kogi

    64 communities in Kogi State have been submerged by flood in the last one month,according to the State Emergency Management Agency.

    At least, one life  has been lost and property damaged.

    A representative of the Head of Operations at the NEMA headquarters, Abuja, Reuben Babatunde, during the on-the-spot assessment of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp at Edeha, said five temporary camps have been set up for victims.

    The Kogi  State Government on Monday advised residents of flood-prone communities in the state to relocate to a safer place to avoid loss of lives and property.

  • Floods of fury

    Residents mourn over loss of 40 lives, submerged houses and farmlands
    Families lament loss of graduates, children, pregnant women

    RESPITE appears to be far from sight for residents of Mokwa, Lapai, Lavun, Borgu, Shiroro and a few other local government areas in Niger State from the floods that have been unleashed on them by torrential rainfall.

    Many lives have been lost, houses have been submerged and properties and farm produce have been lost as residents of the various areas, who normally had nothing in common, continue to count their losses. Inhabitants of the affected communities are shedding tears almost on a daily basis as they witness one form of flood-impelled disaster after the other.

    According to the Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), more than 50 communities across the 22 local government areas in the state are currently under water, while 40 deaths have been reported. Yet the agency has also predicted that there would likely be more casualties as the rainy season approaches its peak.

    In Lapai local government area, for example, the families of Suleiman Ibrahim and Tanko Hassan will not forget the rains in a hurry, having lost two of their promising sons to floods. The two families were inconsolable as they received the news of the death of their sons.

    Respondents after respondents described the deceased graduates as hard working, tenacious, responsible and ready to take on any task. In a state categorised as one of the educationally disadvantaged, it goes without saying that the deceased graduates were the leading lights of the families in Bina community.

    The ‘Small Teachers’, as the graduates of Niger State College of Education, Minna, were popularly called, drowned in a flood while they were on their way back home after visiting their flooded farms and those of their parents.

    “The last time I saw Suleiman, he was very happy. He wanted to make sure that the impact of the flood on our farms was not much. If I knew it was the last I would be seeing of him, I would not have let him go,” lamented Suleiman’s distraught mother as she repeatedly wiped her tears with the edge of her wrapper.

    The two graduates had gone to the flooded rice farmlands in good spirits but got drowned on their way back home as the canoe in which they rode capsized. Suleiman Ibrahim was  said to be 25 years old, while Tanko Abako Hassan was aged 23. Virtually all the rice farms in the village are currently  under water.

    In Shata Sabo, Shiroro Local Government Area, Mallam Mamman received his pregnant wife and two-year-old son’s bodies with tears. He had hoped that the baby in his deceased wife’s womb would be a girl and he would be her hero, but his hopes were dashed as they were caught in a boat accident caused by a flood wave.

    The deceased pregnant woman, Ramatu Mamman, along with her two-year-old son, Saminu, and seven other persons all perished in the accident on River Niger as the boat they boarded from Shata Sabo capsized midway into their journey to Shata Soho in Bosso Local Government Area.

    The Director-General of Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Alhaji Abdullahi Inga, attributed the accident to a flood wave.

    He said: “They were already on the water when a flood wave hit the boat, forcing it to capsize. The accident killed nine out of 11 passengers, including a mechanic, one John Moses, and two of his apprentices; Khalifa Danladi age14 and Ubale Usman age 16; one Mallam Muhammad Safir; Malam Salihu Aliyu and a 72-year-old man simply referred to as Makadi.”

    At press time, only the bodies of Ramatu and her son who was strapped to her back, had been recovered, while the bodies of the others are still being searched for.

    Unheeded danger alerts

    Despite several warnings from the management of dams across the state as well as the state government about impending flood due to the release of water from the dams, a lot of communities paid no attention to them and ended up paying the price. One of such local government areas is Mokwa where about 89 communities have been affected, including those in the downstream of Jebba Dam.

    The flood, according to the officials of NSEMA, destroyed more than 500 houses, rendering more than 1,000 people homeless. Roads, bridges and culverts were also washed away, while farmlands were submerged.

    In Kede community in Mokwa, 30 villages were submerged, while over 100 hectares of farmland were washed away. The villagers and their livestock are currently homeless with no means of livelihood and are seen in makeshift huts as alternative shelter. The farmlands submerged are a FADAMA intervention programme with 100 farmers in 10 clusters across 30 villages.

    One of the villagers whose house and farmland were washed away, Yahaya Adamu Muregi, told The Nation that the flood was not a new occurrence as the village has been experiencing flood yearly since the creation of the Jebba and Kanji dams. He added that the farmers of the FADAMA 111 farmlands that were washed away had just been given farm inputs for better harvest but the flood washed everything away.

    Muregi said that the people were ready to resettle in another community to forestall further loss of properties yearly, calling on the government to develop a resettlement programme.

    Another resident and victim, Alhaji Attahiru Isah, lamented that the people currently have no means of livelihood, adding that there is no food to eat or house to sleep in.

    A visit to one of the villages in Ketso showed irreparable losses. Most of the villagers are currently living in some of the schools that were so far spared by the ravaging floods.

    Aminu Kuje, who echoed Muregi’s statement, said the flood is a yearly occurrence in Ketso, stating that he lost 50 hectares to the flood along with 32 others who suffered the same fate.

    FG’s farming programmes under threat

    The 2018 flood in Niger State seems to have affected farmers the most, especially those participating in the Federal Government/CBN’s anchor borrowers and Fadama 111AF programmes. According to NSEMA Director- General, 80 per cent of farmlands belonging to the farmers were affected in the area.

    Indicating where his rice farmers use to be, which was still covered in water, Mallam Ndamitso Umar, fought to hold back tears as he told the reporter that flood, though expected, was not expected to cause such a colossal damage.

    “How am I going to pay back the loans I have collected? Who am I going to turn to, especially as most of my friends are also affected? You can see the damage yourself. I don’t have to explain how much damage this has caused me. ”

    Umar was the only one willing to speak as others only shook their heads in lamentation, asking: “What do you want us to say?”

    “Even if I say anything now, would it make the government to forget the loan? If I had known, I would not have gone for the CBN Programme. Will they have pity on us because we have lost our farms?”

    The Chairman, Rice Farmers Association (RIFAN), Niger State Branch, Alhaji Mahmood ElMahdys, described the floods as devastating, saying he has had a hard task trying to keep most of his members alive as some of them actually tried to end their lives after seeing their losses.

    According to him, more than 75, 000 hectares of rice farmland estimated at about N52 billion were affected by flooding in the state, adding that the recent flood experienced in Niger in August and September has seriously affected rice farmers, both RIFAN and non-RIFAN members in nearly all the 25 local government areas in the state.

    He said: “The flood we just saw has consumed farms belonging to about 25,000 farmers across the state, translating to an average of three hectares per farmer. You will get about 75,000 hectares of farmland submerged in the flood, and this translates to over N53 billion worth of rice engulfed, considering that most of the farms had either reached harvesting stage or were about to.”

    On Tuesday, the state also witnessed another incident of flood in Zugeru as the water in Zugeru hydro power dam, which is under construction, was released. Because the banks could not hold the water, it flooded into people’s homes and farms, displacing about six communities. The affected people have been resettled at the Central Primary School, which would be their home for the next three to four weeks when the flood is expected to subside.

    One of the leaders of the community, Zubairu Zugeru, said the sum brought as compensation was too meagre and was rejected by the villagers. He said that when the dam was being constructed, they cautioned the contractors that the diversion they did was too small and could not contain the water if it was released. “But, as usual, they took us as novices and continued constructing the waterway. This is our ancestral land, so we know what happens when the dam overflows. Now we are vindicated. ”

    The Public Relations Officer of NSEMA, Ibrahim Audu Hussaini, told The Nation that the cause of the flood was the inability of the waterway to contain the water when it was released from the dam. He added that the people should have been resettled before the construction of the dam, calling on all bodies responsible for compensating the people to do so as they have lost everything. “Their houses are totally destroyed. They lost all their crops and livestock, mostly chickens and goats, and their lives are in danger,” he said.

    Ibrahim said that the magnitude of the flood was the same as the one the state experienced in 2012, adding that the damage could not be quantified. He said the Niger State Government does not have enough funds to curtail the damages that have been caused, saying the state needed intervention from the Federal Government and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

    Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani-Bello, has continually visited most of the affected communities ravaged by flood in Mokwa, Lavun, Katcha, Agaie and Lapai local government areas of the state.

    In order to have an idea of the impact of the flood, the governor had to fly around most of the communities in a police helicopter in line with global best practices where flying in a helicopter over areas affected by flood or similar emergency situation allows for a bird-eye view or total picture of such devastation.

    After assessing the damage, the governor called for the Federal Government’s intervention and directed the immediate distribution of relief items worth over N65 million to some affected communities in Mokwa and Lapai local government areas. Otheraffected communities have also received relief materials from the government through NSEMA.

  • Flood: Affected Edo residents refuse to leave communities

    -lawmaker moves into resettlement camp

    -four die for lack of medical care

     

    Residents of over 14 communities affected by flooding in Edo State have refused to move into the resettlement shelter built by the Federal Government in 2012 and five other centers provided by the local government officials.

    They claimed they could not leave their ancestral land to a place where they would rely on government assistance to feed.

    Communities affected include Udaba, Ofukpo, Agbaburu, Osomegbe, ukpeko, Ugochi, Ifeku island, and Anegbette.

    Over 12,000 residents were affected and the people opted to live in tree houses and devised means to survive on the water.

    At Udaba community, many of the residents were seen making attempts to salvage whatever they could from their farms.

    Schools and health centres in the communities have since closed up.

    The residents had harsh words for the lawmakers representing at the National Assembly, Hon Johnson Oghuma and Senator Francis Alimekhena, for not visiting them since their woes started on September 6th.

    The said the lawmakers were voted for to show care at the point of need and raise concerns about their plight to the federal government.

    Mr. Johnson Agadaga who was harvesting cassava told reporters that he would not leave his farm and community because of flood.

    He said he and his family would survive.

    Agadaga said they used to drink the flood water when it is necessary.

    Another affected resident, Mr Thompson Omonika, said they would not leave their ancestral land because of flood.

    He said they fore fathers lived through the flood and did not die and such they would not die.

    The lawmaker representing Estako Central in the Edo State House of Assembly, Hon Damian Lawani, was seen moving into the federal government resettlement camp.

    Lawani who hails from Udaba said his movement into the camp was to make the people leave the flooded community to avoid outbreak of water borne diseases.

    He disclosed that four persons died within the week because of lack of medical personnel in the community.

    His words, “The people have a lot of attachment to their ancestral home. My home is flooded as I am talking to you that is why I am moving to the camp to encourage others to leave”

    Chairman of Estako Central, Mr. John Akhigbe, who visited the communities with the aid of a speed boat called on the federal government to send relief material to the people.

    Akhigbe stated that some of the affected communities promised to leave on Sunday after harvesting their corps.

    “No doctors can work in those communities now but we will have health care facilities at the camp pending when the water recedes.

    “It is difficult to ask them to leave. We have prepared the six facilities we have to move the people to the place.”

    A former lawmaker, Hon Abubakar Momoh, urged the federal government to live up to its duty and send relief materials to the affected communities.

    Momoh who is Edo North aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, said the federal government responded to the people’s need in 2012 when the flood occurred last.

    His words, “The federal government has to be up and doing. We want action for our people. When the flood occurred in 2012, we raised motions in the House and the federal government responded.“

  • Flood: NEMA seeks evacuation of people in Anambra

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has advised Anambra government to as a matter of urgency begin immediate evacuation of people living in the flood prone areas to the emergency shelter centres in the state.

    Director of Planning, Research and Forecasting Mr Vincent Owen gave the advice yesterday when he visited Enugwu-Out in Anambra East Local Government Area in accompany of some staff of the agency and other stakeholders.

    According to him, the weather forecast by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), that 2018 flood may come in same magnitude of the flood of 2012, should not be treated with levity.

    Owen said that the update regarding the flood was so alarming, adding that all the indices during the 2012 flood were visible while the speed at which the river was rising needed urgent action.
    “There is nothing to wait for in the evacuation of the people living in the flood prone areas in Anambra, the indices seen in 2012 flood have manifested in all the areas visited.
    “In Ogbarua communities, all the towns have been affected by the flood, in Enugwu-Otu and Nkpundo –Out, the story is not different,’’ he said.
    The director advised all the 12 states located in the flood prone areas to take the forecast serious while assuring of the agency speedy assistance, whereever the need might arise.

    Owen said that the Nigerian Government has received a message from the Cameroon Government of its intention to open Lagoon Damns and ask for proactive measures by the affected states.
    He said that if the forecast were not timely adhered to, the imminent flood shall be worse than the 2012 flood experience.

  • Flood: Benin residents call on Govt. to construct drains

    Residents of the flood ravaged Technical College Road in Benin metropolis have appealed to Edo Government to construct drains in the city centre as lasting solution to recurring flood.

    Some of the residents, in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Benin, said the recurring flood was giving the people nightmares during rainy seasons.

    They said the menace had compounded the environmental degradation of the city centre due to lack of drainage system.

    According to them, the Technical College Road is one of the longest streets within the city centre and always flooded.

    “Lack of proper drainage system constitutes an environmental and health hazard to residents.”

    A trader, Chioma Okocha, who operates a shop on the street, said the area had been in a terrible state for many years.

    Chioma said during the rainy seasons, residents were always constructing wooden bridges to enable them to move from one location to the other.

    She called on the state government to urgently construct drains to address the problem.

    Osauyi Omoye, a resident, attributed the upsurge in flooding to non-compliance to town planning regulations by residents.

    According to her, developers are fond of erecting structures along the waterways while residents are engaging in indiscriminate dumping of wastes on streams, drains and waterways.

    She called on the state government to channel the waterways to a river or a canal as part of the initiatives to protect the environment.

  • Flood sacks Ekiti residents, takes over highway

    .RESIDENTS RENDERED HOMELESS

     

    A portion of Ado-Iworoko Road in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital has been taken over by a massive flood making passage difficult for residents.

    The flood was consequent upon heavy rains witnessed in the city in the last one week which also rendered many residents homeless.

    Property worth millions of Naira including houses, cars and household items have been destroyed by the deluge.

    The Ado-Iworoko Road, a federal highway which leads to Ekiti State University (EKSU), communities in Ekiti North senatorial district and northern states, has been rendered impassable by a big pool of flood very close to Ayemi Garage and Pathfinder.

    Motorists, motorcyclists and pedestrians have been shut out of one lane of the road while the other lane is also under threat as the Elemi River has overflown its bank spilling the massive flood on the road.

    Read Also: Flood sacks another seven communities in Edo

    The flooded road caused a huge traffic snarl on the road as many motorists were afraid of entering the flood to proceed on their trips.

    Hundreds of residents of breast Olorunda and Olorunsogo areas have been sacked from their homes by the raging flood.

    A visit to the affected areas by The Nation on Tuesday showed the beleaguered residents wearing mournful looks on the calamity that befell them.

    Ekiti Flood

    One of the victims, Oluwafemi Joseph, called for the assistance of the state government in constructing drainage and channels to tackle flooding.

    Commuters along Ado-Iworoko Road, Agbaje Adedoyin and Adesoye Subulade, also demanded construction of modern bridge to ease free flow of water.

    It will be recalled that a commercial motorcyclist was swept off by flood at the same spot last year and his remains were not found until after two days.