The Nation Newspaper

Tag: flood

  • Delta closes flood victims’ camp

    Delta closes flood victims’ camp

    The Delta State Government has closed all camps opened to cater for the recent flood-ravaged victims in the state, the Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Tony Nwaka, has said.

    Nwaka told the News Agency of Nigeria in Asaba that the closure which started on October 30 was concluded on Friday, with the ones at Ogbe-Ijoh in Warri South West.

    NAN recalls that 22 camps were set up by the state government for the internally displaced persons in the 14 Local Government Areas affected by flooding.

    The government had announced the provision of N174 million as allowance, comprising N5, 000 to every adult and N3, 000 to every child, willing to leave the camp.

    The measure was informed by the fact the many of the victims had started leaving to participate in the farming season.

    “The remaining camp, out of the two in Ogbe-Ijoh, was closed on Friday, and that was the last camp to be closed in the state. With that, we have officially closed all camps of all persons displaced by flood in the state”, Nwaka said.

    He, however, said that relief materials donated for the victims would soon be distributed to them.

     

  • Flood: Dangote committee targets N50bn

    The Aliko Dangote -led Presidential Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation plans to raise N50billion to ameliorate the sufferings of flood victims across the nation.

    This was disclosed when the business mogul was received by Governor Seriake Dickson over the weekend.

    Dangote said the committee has raised N12billion including N1.8bn donated by 36 states.

    He assured that the committee will be transparent in the management of the funds raised for victims.

    Dickson lamented the state is the most impacted in terms of the magnitude of the destruction.

    He pointed out all local government areas in the state were heavily impacted, stressing: ”I don’t think there is any state that has the situation where all local government areas were heavily impacted.”

     

  • Church donates to Kogi flood victims

    Church donates to Kogi flood victims

    The Good Tidings Bible Church in Abuja has donated relief materials to flood victims in Kogi State.

    Kogi State governor Idris Wada, who commended the initiative, called on other religious organisations to come to the aid of flood victims in the state.

    Relief materials ranging from medications, clothes, food stuffs, toiletries, and accessories were presented to the victims

    Wada expressed deep appreciation to the Senior Pastor of the church, Pastor Dayo Olutayo for his deep thought to help the needy. He prayed that God should continue to strengthen his ministry.

    He assured that the relief materials would be distributed judiciously to the beneficiaries.

    He said: “The church has made it a point of duty to bring fulfilment to lives of people.”

    He expressed deep concern over the flood disaster which ravaged so many communities in several states of the country. He therefore urged Nigerians to come out en masse and support these victims in any way they could in order to alleviate the sufferings they experience on daily basis.

  • Now Muzik signees raise hope for flood victims

    Now Muzik signees raise hope for flood victims

    NOW Muzik signees such as 2face Idibia, Timi Dakolo and J Martins all took a common bond when they joined their voices to raise hope for flood victims at an event which took place on the 8th of November.

    The event was a fund raising dinner put together by the Presidential Committee on Flood Relief and Rehabilitation. It was presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa.

    Rendering the thought provoking lyrics of his soul lifting, classic song, ‘Great Nation’, to the guests, Timi Dakolo evoked a sense of patriotism in every one present. Africa’s finest, 2face Idibia, held the guest spellbound with a performance of his timeless hit ‘See Me So’, which emphasises the need for us to be our brothers’ keeper and see ourselves as one big family . Also, J. Martins’ performance of his classic song, ‘Cool Temper’, was not only appropriate but also timely and encouraging.

    The event, anchored by one of the co-chairmen of the committee, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, was graced by captains of industry, top bureaucrats and high-profile advocates.

    Over N11b was raised in cash and promissory donations for the flood victims and the President appealed to Nigerians and the international community to donate generously to the course because it is a tragedy that will melt the hardest of the hearts.

  • Delta flood victims to get N5,000 each

    Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has said a token would be paid to flood victims before they leave relief camps.

    He said adults would be given N5,000 and children N3,000 each.

    Uduaghan spoke at a meeting with political appointees.

    He said the money was a “token pocket money” for those anxious to return home.

    Uduaghan said the committee set up on the resettlement of displaced persons was yet to submit its report. He said the state government would contact the victims when the committee submits its report.

    The governor said: “We are not going to allow anxious flood victims return home empty handed. We are going to give them little funds to buy pots and other essentials because they lost everything to floods.”

    He directed camp commandants to properly document the data of victims, so that they can be easily contacted when the government is ready with the final resettlement package.

    Uduaghan warned unaffected residents against pretending to be victims. He said the government had no plan to recruit people to work in the camps.

    The governor said he was shocked by an information that some people where selling forms for employment in the camps for N20,000 each and warned residents against falling prey to fraudsters.

    Uduaghan directed headteachers of secondary schools in flood-ravaged areas to ensure that all SS 111 students were registered for the National Examination Council (NECO) and West African Examination Council (WAEC) examinations.

  • Flood: World Bank to conduct post disaster needs assessment

    Flood: World Bank to conduct post disaster needs assessment

    •Hydrogeologists want installation of alarm system

     

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in collaboration with the World Bank and some international donor organisations, will soon conduct a post- disaster needs assessment following the flood that recently ravaged 28 states in the country.

    The Director-General of NEMA, who was represented by the Director of Finance and Account, Mr. Hakeem Akinbola, said this yesterday in Abuja at the orientation workshop for officials of the State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMAs), as well as Ministries of Agriculture, Environment and Housing.

    He said: “The workshop is intended to provide participants with adequate skills, knowledge and techniques on how to handle the challenges.

    “It will also afford the Federal Government and international community the opportunity to execute plans and actions for rehabilitation, reconstruction and recovery of the communities affected by flood.”

    The United Nations Country Resident Coordinator, Mr. Daouda Toure, said the post disaster needs assessment seeks to assess the impact of natural disasters on infrastructures as well as people.

    He said the assessment would compile information on economic damage, losses and human impacts of the disaster on communities.

    Toure noted that the World Bank and European Union would support the Federal Government in the spirit of the 2008 joint agreement on post crisis cooperation.

    The Nigeria Association of Hydrogeologists (NAH) has called for the installation of early warning alarm systems in the hydrological stations connected through the satellite to alert the country to impending flood.

    It also wants the hydrological areas of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to be recognised as the unit water resources management.

    This was contained in a communique issued at the end of the 24th annual conference of NAH held in Benin City.

    The association, in the communique signed by its President, Dr. Abubarkar Iliya, called for the establishment of modern hydrological stations to monitor and quantify the volume of runoff water likely to cause flood.

    It reads: “We should undertake a post-flood environmental impact assessment of the areas inundated by flood and carry out a survey of the submerged boreholes in the areas with the aim of rehabilitating and cleaning them up.”

     

  • Flood: No time for emergency millionaires

    Flood: No time for emergency millionaires

    SIR: The floods threatening many parts of Nigeria, killing a lot of people and making many homeless and hence refugee in their own country is threatening Nigeria’s environment and the economy. The impacts include loss of agricultural produce, fish, and abandonment of fishing grounds and associated livelihood pursuits, degradation of aquatic resources and other ecological damages. Others include emigration of wild life and consequent decline in hunting, loss of drinking and industrial water and its importation or derivation at extra costs. There is also the impact of destruction or reduction of agricultural and related activities as well as cleansing, population resettlement and other aspects of rehabilitation. Impairment of human health, forced population migration, worsened rural development and embitterment of the affected individuals and communities.

    However, permit me to commend the efforts of the federal government under Dr. Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan, GCFR for prompt intervention and visit to many communities where the floods rendered most people homeless and also killed many. As part of efforts to cushion the effect in the interim, the federal government constituted a committee and released funds for the assistance of the flood victims. Some states, like Delta State released funds, donated relief materials including Hilux vehicles to take care of the flood victims. This is highly commendable.

    For the committee constituted at different levels for disbursing basic items for the survival of the victims, let integrity, honour, patriotism, selfless service, distinction and fear of God be the hallmarks and watch words of those charged with the funds and relief materials for the flood victims so as to ensure transparency, probity, accountability and honesty at the end of the whole exercise. Let mergency millionaires among members of the committee or other NGO’s who are currently assisting not emerge.

    It should be noted that the core of human life and happiness and not their destruction is the first and only legitimate object of good government. We, the followers must contribute appropriately, genuinely and sincerely to this task. One can boldly say without mincing words that many Nigerians are morally vacuous and would do anything for money. The members of the committee have historical opportunity dropped on their laps by God to distinguish themselves and demonstrate that they are not going to be anybody’s stooge but with high level of discipline, where necessary step on toes for the betterment of flood victims.

    • Charles Ikedikwa Soeze,

    Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta State.

     

  • ACN donates materials to Imo flood victims

    The Imo State Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) yesterday donated relief materials to the victims of floods in Oguta and Ohaji-Egbema local government areas.

    The materials include bags of rice, clothing, toiletries and assorted food items.

    Addressing stakeholders at Oguta Civic Centre, the leader of the delegation and the Chairman, Chukwudi Charles Ubah, said the party was moved by the plight of the victims.

    He described the ACN as a caring party.

    Ubah led the party’s team to the palace of the traditional ruler of Oguta, Eze Nnani Nzeribe.

    The party chairman told the residents that ACN is committed to the welfare of its supporters.

    He said: “We keep in touch with our members during and after elections. ACN is the only political party in Nigeria that has remained committed to the welfare of its members, even in states where the party is not in power. We have come today to commiserate with our people and other victims who lost their homes and means of livelihood to the unfortunate disaster.”

    A resident, Prof. Ike Azogu, thanked the party for the gesture.

    He said: “We are happy that you are here to assist our people. Oguta has a soft spot for the ACN. As you may be aware, the flood has receded and we are battling with the post-disaster challenges. We solicit your kind support in any form.”

    The party’s Public Relations Officer (PRO), Chuks Amaechi, said ACN was commiserating with members and non-members of party.

    He added: “We are your friends and we will not abandon you in your times of trial. We are not here today to campaign; we are here to give succor, in our own little way, to our brothers and sisters who are suffering.”

    Another resident, Chief John Ifeanyi, hailed the party for the gesture.

    He said: “You are the first political party to come and visit us with relief materials. I assure you that at the right time we won’t forget.”

     

  • Sambo assures Cross River flood victims of support

    VICE President Namadi Sambo has reiterated the Federal Government’s determination to take steps towards assuaging the pains caused by flooding in Cross River State.

    Speaking in Buanchor, a rural community in Boki Local Government Area, which recently suffered a devastating landslide from surrounding mountains that led to flooding in the area, Sambo said that the feelings in the Presidency about the devastation which occurred in July this year was deep regret and sympathy for the agrarian community which had lost substantial property including farms and houses.

    He lauded the state governor, Liyel Imoke, for his good leadership qualities which he said have created a good atmosphere for growth and development.

    Governor Liyel Imoke said that the presence of the Vice President in the community depicted the concern the Federal Government has for the people of Boki and Cross River in general.

    He used the opportunity to advice the people of the flood ravaged communities in the state to remain calm and patient, assuring that the state and federal governments would not abandon them.

     

  • Flood: ‘Why I enlisted Aki and Paw Paw as motivational speakers’

    Flood: ‘Why I enlisted Aki and Paw Paw as motivational speakers’

    Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, on Monday, said he enlisted the services of Nollywood actors and actresses in order to provide psychological support for flood victims.

    He said many internally displaced persons suffer emotional and psychological traumas occasioned by the loss to property and person.

    Uduaghan made this known in Asaba-the Delta State capital at the inauguration of the Justice Francis Tabai led committee to manage N500 million provided by the Federal Government to assist flood victims.

    Two Nollywood stars Chinedu Ikedieze and Osita Iheme alias Aki and Paw-paw were appointed motivational speakers at the displaced persons camp in Delta State.

    Recalling his experience during a late night call at the I.C.E relief camp, Uduaghan said he was surprised when a crowd of displaced persons ignored him but instead were engrossed in a Nollywood movie.

    His words, “There was a night I was at the I.C.E camp at about 11 pm. At the I.C.E Camp there is a public television, as I walked towards the television a crowd was gathered, almost half of the IDP’s were gathered around the television. They were laughing away .I tried to attract their attention but they continued watching the television, completely ignoring me.. When I looked at the television, the crowd was watching an Africa Magic movie and some of the actors in that movie were Aki and Paw-paw.

    “Because they were watching this movie, they forgot their pains .For the flood victims watching this movie helped them to relieve their pains. I thought to myself I should get this people to go to some of the camps as motivational speakers. They are here for the motivational supports to some of our people in the camp .I believe that the few minutes they spend will make a huge difference in their lives. It is not just food alone they require, they need encouragement, and they need someone to tell them that there is a future.”

    Uduaghan said though flood victims have been provided with foods and basic items, their emotional and psychological needs are not being provided for.

    His words, “It is the psychology of people in the camp; they may have food to eat.. Many are not in their normal state of mind .We try to do all sort of things to make them to ease the pains of their suffering. I want to thank our religious leaders who been visiting the camp and praying with them.”