The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Floods

  • 70 Kwara communities taken over by floods

    Floods, occasioned by the overflow of Rivers Niger and Kaduna, have displaced residents of 70 communities at Patigi in Patigi Local Government Area of Kwara State.

    This happened just as the government announced that flood has rendered 4,700 people homeless in Edu Local Government.

    At Patigi, houses, farmlands and property worth several millions of Naira were submerged.

    The Managing Director of the Lower Niger River Basin Development Authority, Ilorin, Abubakar Aduragba, said the flood swept away over 3, 200 hectares of rice plantation.

    The plantation is under the Tada-Shonga Irrigation Scheme in Edu Local Government.

    He urged the Federal Government to release fund for the completion of the 32,000 hectares in Tada-Shonga Irrigation Project, which was started by the Federal Ministry of Water Resources.

    Aduragba said the project is located on the fertile plains of the River Niger between Tada and Shonga in Edu Local Government.

    He said the objective of the Tada-Shonga Irrigation Scheme was to increase the nation’s rice production through large scale rice plantation.

    According to him, the benefits of the project include production of 53, 000 metric tones of rice annually through double cropping with market value in excess of over N3 billion.

    The Chairman of Patigi Local Government, Alhaji Taoheed Makun Lata, described the flood as a disaster that had wreaked havoc on his people.

    The Special Adviser on Emergency and Relief Services to the Governor, Alhaji Musa Abdullahi, during an assessment tour of the flooded areas in Edu Local Government, assured the people of government’s support to cushion the effect of the flood.

  • Floods: Senate seeks supplementary budget

    Floods: Senate seeks supplementary budget

    The Senate on Tuesday urged President Goodluck Jonathan to submit a supplementary budget that would address the immediate needs of victims of flooding in parts of the country.

    This followed the adoption of a motion entitled: “The menace of flooding in Nigeria” by the lawmakers.

    The motion was sponsored by Senator Danlandi Sankara (Jigawa North-West) and 27 others.

    The Upper Chambers further urged the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) to “take steps to de-silt waterways and tributaries which are silted and taken over by shrubs to allow for channels and easy flow of water to contain the ravaging flood.”

    The Senators also enjoined the Federal Government in collaboration with other relevant agencies to initiate proactive and preventive measures to guard against future recurrence of flood disasters in the country.

    In his lead debate, Senator Sankara urged the Senate to note that flood has ravaged many states especially those states along the River Niger, River Benue, the Cross River, the Gongola River, the Iyere River and their tributaries.

    The Jigawa North-West Senator also urged the lawmakers to take cognizance of the fact that a lot of people have lost their lives from mid-July to date due to the heavy downpour, while property worth billions of naira were washed away by the flood.

    He noted that thousands of houses have collapsed as a result of the heavy rains, especially in rural areas, across the country.

    He said he was alarmed that in Jigawa State for example about 70 per cent of the houses in various communities have collapsed while others were submerged by flood.

    He said it was a matter of great concern that to properly undertake a tour of affected areas in Jigawa State, services of canoes had to be secured to travel a distance of four kilometres before getting to some of the villages entirely covered by flood.

    Senate President David Mark lamented a situation where there is no Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to respond to emergencies in Nigeria.

    Mark said the present flooding is a clear demonstration that the country is totally unprepared to tackle any natural disaster like earthquake if it does occur in Nigeria.

     

  • Floods overrun Abuja-Lokoja road

    Floods overrun Abuja-Lokoja road

    Floods have taken over the Lokoja-Abuja road- the major access to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) – the seat of power.

    The River Niger has overflowed its banks, submerging the road and many homes. The floods caused a chaotic traffic on the road, with vehicles forming long queues on both sides.

    The queue at the Lokoja end of the road has extended to Obajana village, about 15 kilometres drive to the Lokoja city centre. Many passengers are stranded

    The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) is expected to close the road today.

    In a statement yesterday by deputy corps public education officer Mr. Bisi Kazeem, the FRSC said: “FRSC intends blocking the Lokoja-Abuja highway as water level rises andthe road becomes impassable.

    “Motorists are advised to completely avoid the route and ply alternative routes.”

    Mr Isaac Martins, the head of Operations of the State Sector Command of the FRSC said the problem was more serious with the small cars, adding that it takes officials and youths assisting them an average of 20 minutes to help a car out of the water.

    “ Vehicles are moving but they are moving slowly. That is just the situation at hand now,’’ Martins said.

    He urged motorists to use alternative roads, pending when the flood would be over.

    Also in Kogi State, the Nigeria Red Cross Society said yesterday that it had deployed three boats in the riverine areas of Ibaji Local Government to rescue trapped flood victims taking refuge on tree tops.

    Mr Mustafa Allah-Dey, the chairman of the state branch of the Red Cross, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja that the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) released the boats for the rescue operation.

    Allah-Dey said that men of the Navy and officials of NEMA, SEMA and the state Ministry of Environment were also involved in the operation, adding that many of the victims were said to be in life-threatening situations.

    To him, the people should be blamed for their predicament, adding that they failed to heed several warnings to quit their homes to avoid being trapped.

    The chairman said he did not have the figure of the exact number of people trapped and that no report of casualties had been received.

    He only described the situation in Ibaji as “very terrible”.

    In Makurdi, the Benue State capital, the billion naira farm belonging to former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Audu Ogbeh was submerged by floods.

    The water overflowing from River Benue which has caused havoc in Makurdi, ravaged Efugo Farm and home of the political chieftain, in Terwase Agbadu.

    The Agbadu settlement is on the Makurdi-Gboko road. The farm and the house are not far away from the bank of the river.

    Yesterday’s flood covered a two-kilometre stretch, overrunning homes and farms.

    The floods also affected the Living Faith Church, Benue Links, Federal Mass Transit Park, Kucha Utebe and parts of Benue Brewery’s factory.

    Many residents hurriedly moved into camps provided by Benue State government. There was panic, following rumours that more water would be released from Lagdo Dam in Cameroun, which is the cause of the flooding.

    The Executive Secretary, Benue State Emergency Management Agency(SEMA),Mr Adikpo Agbatse, said the situation was beyond the capability of the state. He advised those still living close to River Benue to relocate.

    Efugo Farms has poultry, piggery, livestock feeds section and a massive rice plantation. A close aide of Ogbeh, who pleaded anonymity, put the value of the farm at over N2 billion.

    The farm covers 10 kilometres. It has pigs, chickens and hatch eggs valued at over N50 million. All were destroyed. The floods washed away many birds.

    Ogbeh, who is based in Abuja, could not be reached last night.

  • 1.9m people displaced by floods in Kogi

    1.9m people displaced by floods in Kogi

    Senator Smart Adeyemi yesterday raised the alarm that about 1.9 million people have been displaced by floods in Kogi State.

    Besides, the National Emergency Management Agency(NEMA) said nine local governments in the state were under threats with some parts submerged.

    Adeyemi, who spoke with reporters in Abuja after returning from a tour of the affected areas, said the figure was confirmed to him by NEMA’s North Central Co-ordinator.

    The Senator inspected the devastated areas in company of three members of the House of Representatives -Sunday Karimi, TJ Yusuf and Mohammed Buba.

    Most of the displaced victims are housed in 10 camps.

    Adeyemi however, donated N250,000 to each of the 10 resettlement camps. He said the flood has “reinforced the need for the Hydro-Electric Power Producing Areas Commission(HYPPADEC), which, in his view would have assisted the affected areas.

    “The flood has wreaked enormous damage in the communities, nine local governments, including Lokoja, Kotonkarfe, Ankpa, Dekina, Ibaji and Bassa, were badly affected.

    “To get to the real spots, we had to take canoe on two spots on the highway. More than 10,000 vehicles and trucks were stranded on that highway,”

    “I want the Federal government to immediately come to the aid of the people in those communities because this is not what they bargained for,” he said

    A statement by NEMA’s Head of Public Relations, Alhaji Yushau Shuaib, reads: “A technical team comprising officials of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and critical stakeholders in disaster management at the weekend visited areas devastated by the massive floods along the banks of Rivers Benue and Niger and their tributaries in Benue and Kogi states to assess the damages and identify suitable intervention required to address the problem. “As most of the areas remained flooded, about 10, 000 displaced persons are taking shelter in four camps each in Benue and Kogi states while many more are also taking cover with their relatives. NEMA has already deployed relief items to the camps to assist the Internally displaced People (IDPs).

    “The flood in Benue affected the communities in Makurdi along the river belt. Nine local government areas were affected in Kogi State with Ibaji Local Government Area almost completely submerged.

    “The inhabitants are now taking refuge in the neighbouring communities. The other local governments areas affected are Bassa, Ofu, Kogi, Omala, Ajaokuta, Ankpa, Igalamela and Lokoja where choice property including hotels, residential buildings, government offices and fishing communities along the confluence of Rivers Benue and Niger were also virtually submerged.

    At a meeting with the Governor of Kogi State, NEMA’s Director of Planning, Research and Forecasting, Dr. Charles Agbo, who led the team warned of prolonged flooding as more water would still be released from Lagdo Dam in Cameroon and Kainji Dam with the intensifying rains.

    He also urged the state government to enforce the standard regulation on urban planning and development as well as permanently relocate communities in the flood plains to safer locations.

    Agbo warned that even after the flood, most of the submerged houses may become too weak and no longer be safe for habitation in addition to the potential health hazards from the disaster. Therefore, he said the state governments must to rise up to their responsibilities to the affected communities as the Federal Government, through NEMA would provide necessary support for the displaced persons.

    Replying, Governor Idris Wada appreciated the concern of the Federal Government towards the flood situation and requested supports to reinforce the efforts made by the state government to assist the displaced persons.

    He urged NEMA and relevant organisations to identify measures to mitigate future occurrence of the flood.

    The flood has also cut off the Abuja-Lokoja road. Though temporary diversions have created to ease gridlock on the route, traffic officials and emergency workers are having hectic moments in controlling the stranded motorists

  • Floods sack Kaduna, Benue communities after days of rains

    Floods sack Kaduna, Benue communities after days of rains

    At least 178 homes have been swept away in Kaduna metropolis following 350 days of torrential rainfall.

    Vice President Namadi Sambo’s house and the zonal office of the Nigeria National Petroleum Cooperation (NNPC) along Gabarau Road near the new Kaduna Bridge are in danger of being submerged because of the rising water level.

    In Benue State, about 350 hectares of rice farm along the bank of River Benue has been destroyed by flood.

    Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) said yesterday that more houses may be affected in the coming days as the level of water on the Kaduna river continues to rise.

    Executive Secretary of the Agency, Ishaku Dogo Makama, however, said the agency has no record of death so far, even though many residents of the metropolis believe that the figure of houses affected is more than the figures given.

    A Senior Lecturer with the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Dr. Mhamud Umar, said: “In the Zaria, area where I live, one family lost their apartment. The entire house collapsed. The owner of the house had to sleep outside because of their property while his family went to take refuge somewhere”.

    Weather experts had predicted that Kaduna will be affected by flood, especially between September and October, compelling the government to issue a warning on August 7, to residents of flood-prone areas to evacuate.

    Some of the areas affected by the floods include Abubakar Kigo Road extension, Rafin Guza, Nasarawa, Bashan Road, Tudun Wada and Unguwan Rimi GRA, among others. The areas are flood-prone, but attract lots of people annually.

    Makama said a combined effort of the agency and officials of the Nigeria Red Cross came with the figure of the affected houses saying “after the assessment of these areas by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Red Cross, we confirmed 178 homes submerged. We have not heard of any reported death or injury. We are writing a report to government, so, we can be helped to set up camp for affected people. We are still appealing to people living in flood-prone areas to please leave, as the danger of flooding is not yet over”. It was gathered that some of the houses affected at the high brow Unguwan Rimi GRA, New Extension, were homes of the rich who build houses not too far from the Kaduna River which is already on the tip of the bridge.

    One of those affected by the flood along Abubakar Kigo Road and a Reporter with The Road , Miss Amina Anebi said: “I was woken up by a roaring sound. When I woke up, I heard the sound of water gushing from my doors and windows, so I jumped out of bed. “I discovered that the water had risen close to my ankles. I started to move my things and put them on top of the table. I carried some on my head. When I opened the door, more water flowed in. I managed to wade through it. By this time, it was waist-high.

    “This was around 2am and there was water everywhere. As I speak now, my things are still there. I saw people moving out their things in vehicles, some carrying their children moving their things about that night. It came as a surprise to many of us”, she said.

    Unguwan Rafi, housing the state legislative quarters was not left out as the flood turn the place into an overnight lake. Men in canoe were seen doing brisk business, moving people out and recovering some valuables for them. At the time of this report, the water level was still rising and there was no immediate succour to those affected who are taking refuge with friends and family members across the metropolis.

    About 50 kilometre stretch of Rice farm ,cultivated on 350 hectares of land along the Bank of River Benue has been destroyed by flood from water released from Lagdo dam in cameroun.

    Most of the farmers affected by the floods are those engaged in out growers scheme of Mess Ashi Foods limited ,owners of Ashi Rice Mill, with biggest rice processing plant at Anyiin, Local Government Area.

    With the flooding, the hope of harvesting this season is dashed and the fear of rice scarcity ,which would also scuttle the government effort on rice importation.

    There is also the fear of food crisis as Benue is considered as the food basket of the nation and a major rice-procession region in the country, accounting for 45 per cent of local rice production .There are two modern rice milling plant in operation.

    Ashi Foods limited, owners of Ashi Rice Mill are already counting losses as a result of the flooding.

    The Project Coordinator of the company, Joesph Tsavsar estimated the loss at over N500 million.