The Nation Newspaper

Tag: National Emergency Management Agency

  • Another 164 Nigerians deported from Libya

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has received a fresh batch of 164 Nigerians who failed to travel to Europe for greener pasture and got stranded in Libya.

    Receiving the returnees, Ibrahim Farinloye, on behalf of the Coordinator, Lagos Territorial Office of the agency, Alhaji Idris Muhammed, implored them to seize the fresh opportunity that they have in starting a positive and fruitful life within the abundant resources available in Nigeria.

    “There’s nothing bad in the quest for improved and better in the world but the method and process in seeking greener pastures overseas are mostly wrong and entail avoidable risks.

    “One will not appreciate the abundant resources God have endowed us with in Nigeria until you travel out.

    “All of you have gone and fortunately come back alive and you are at the best position to tell the story to those still aspiring to embark on such journey.

    Read also: 160 Nigerians deported from Libya

    “We understand that many of you were deceived with very juicy opportunities overseas and these are mostly your close relatives.

    “You need to assist the government to stem the menace of trafficking by giving information to government agencies who are going to protect your identity and safety.

    “The traffickers are not ghosts, you know them and you need safe other youths from falling victims.”

    The International Organisation for Migration facilitated their return with special funding by the European Union in an assisted voluntary returnees programme that would end in April 2020.

    The returnees were brought back onboard Chartered Al Burag Airline Boeing 737-800 flight number 89 with registration number 5A-DMG

    They arrived the Cargo Wing of Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja at about 12:15 on Friday noon.

    Farinloye said among the returnees were 71 female adults, 17 female children and 6 female infants.

    “There are 55 male adults 13 male children and 2 male infants.

    “Amongst them are 3 returnees with medical cases and a pregnant woman, who fell into labour upon arrival in Nigeria,” he stated.

  • Maiduguri IDPs’ protest not triggered by hunger — NEMA

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Tuesday dismissed as misleading reports alleging that some Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) staged a demonstration to protest lack of food at the Teachers’ Village IDPs camp in Maiduguri.

    But a cross-section of the protesting IDPs, told NAN that they were demonstrating over lack of food and shelter in the camp since their arrival about 40 days ago.

    The protesters were taking refuge at the camp since January, sequel to the displacement of households from their homes due to Boko Haram insurgents’ attack in Baga and adjourning communities in Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno.

    In a statement, Mr Sani Datti, the Head of Media and Public Relations of the agency, said that the protest was not triggered by lack of food and starvation in the camp, but rather due to the suspension of registration of the displaced persons by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

    Datti said:  “for record and purpose of clarity, though there was protest by some IDPs living in Teachers Village Camp, Maiduguri, it was never caused by hunger or lack of food supplies.

    “The protest was actually caused by interruption of profiling exercise of the IDPs by International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC), who were at the camp to extend their humanitarian support to complement the effort of partners.

    Read also: Rig with IDPs and face the consequences, PDP tells INEC

    “Consequently, some people outside made attempt to be enumerated and this prompted some IDPs in the camp to chase them away and it resulted in commotion and riot.

    “However, the situation has been immediately brought under control by the security operatives stationed at the camp and normalcy restored,” Datti said.

    Datti said that the agency had continued to provide food items monthly to the IDPs in camps, host communities and liberated areas in Borno and Adamawa States.

    According to him, the agency had conducted the monthly food distribution exercise at the camp on January 15, 2019, for the households, adding that the food ration was expected to sustain the households for one month.

    Some aggrieved IDPs had staged a demonstration on Tuesday in Maiduguri, to protest alleged lack of food and shelter at the camp.

    Hundreds of the displaced persons took to the streets, blocked the Maiduguri-Kano Road, and destroyed billboards and campaign posters of political parties candidates mounted by the road.

    It took the intervention of the police, military and other security operatives to disperse the protesting IDPs.

    (NAN)

  • Four pregnant women, 158 others return from Libya

    A fresh batch of 162 Nigerians, including four pregnant women, have voluntarily returned from Libya with the assistance of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).

    The Coordinator, Lagos Zonal Office of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Idris Muhammed, confirmed the development to the News Agency of Nigeria on Wednesday in Lagos.

    Muhammed said the Nigerians arrived at the Cargo Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, at 3.30a.m on board a chartered Libyan Airlines aircraft.

    He said the returnees comprised of 100 females, including four pregnant women and 62 males.

    The coordinator, while welcoming the returnees, urged them to be agents of positive change by joining the campaign against irregular migration.

    “Migration is protected by International and national statutes for movement of people through proper regularisation of papers that will protect and save you against risks of irregular migrations,” Muhammed said.

    Read Also: NIS nab Libya deportees on human trafficking

    He disclosed that NEMA recently hosted a team from European Union on monitoring and evaluation of the special EU intervention on assisted voluntary return of migrants.

    According to him, NEMA interfaced with them on the ways of improving the present EU Assisted Voluntary Returnees programme being run by IOM.

    He said gaps were identified, especially on logistics.

    Muhammed said that efforts were being put in place to close such gaps to make the process much smoother for the stakeholders and the returnees.

    He said the exercise, which began in April 2017, is expected to end by April, 2020.

    According to him, no fewer than 8,808 returnees have so far been repatriated back home to Nigeria from the volatile North African country.

  • NEMA seeks stakeholders’ collaboration

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) at the weekend called for collaboration with stakeholders in the South-South region for effective emergency management of the area.

    Mr Ibarakumo Walson, the New South-South Zonal Coordinator, NEMA, made the call during the official handing over ceremony by the outgoing coordinator in Port Harcourt, Mr Ejike Martins.

    Walson, who is also the Assistant Director, Planning Research and Forecast Management of NEMA, appealed to the media and other stakeholders to work with the agency to achieve its set goals and ensure effective emergency control and management.

    “I appeal to stakeholders and the media to collaborate with us because NEMA alone cannot effectively manage or control disasters without the cooperation and collaboration of stakeholders.

    “We need collaboration to continue from where my predecessor stopped because it is a continuous process; I appeal, especially to the media, to work with us to achieve the agency’s goal in the zone,” he said.

    He said the agency would ensure that the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and Local Emergency Management Committee (LEMC) worked together for positive results in disaster and emergency management.

    The Zonal Coordinator promised to work assiduously to move the agency forward and enjoined members of staff to work with him in realising this objective.

    Speaking earlier, Ejike, who welcomed Walson to the state, commended officers of the agency for their support and cooperation they gave him which made his work easy.

  • ‘Southeast experienced 42 disasters in 2018’

    Forty-two disasters were recorded in Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states in 2018, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said yesterday.

    The disasters include flooding, fire, communal conflicts, erosion, windstorm, among others.

    NEMA’s Southeast Zonal Coordinator Walson Ibarakumo Brandon, who said this during a stakeholders’ meeting in Enugu, said over 300 persons were affected by the floods that ravaged Anambra between September and October.

    A check on their disaster profile and their emergency management outlook showed Anambra experienced 15, Ebonyi, 11 and Enugu 16 major incidents.

    Brandon said: “Three interventions were made by the agency in Anambra, with flood and non-flood items supplied to over 17 Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDPs’) camps, and recovery efforts are on with Emergency Operation Centres (EOC) set up.

    Read also: NEMA receives 193 Nigerians from Libya

    “Ebonyi State experienced over 11 disasters, with communal conflicts ranking as outstanding. The disaster profile of Enugu State includes 16 major reported cases.”

    According to Brandon, the agency had concluded direct distribution of relief materials to persons affected by windstorm in villages making up the Agbogugu in Awgu Local Government of Enugu State.

    He added: “These disasters disrupt people’s lives and jeopardise the country’s economy. In fact, one single disaster can overwhelm the GNP of the country. Therefore, it becomes pertinent that stakeholders cooperate multilaterally in line with the priorities of action stipulated in the Sendai Framework of Action (SFA).

     

  • NEMA donates relief materials to Enugu windstorm affected community

    The joy of victims of windstorm disaster in Agbogugu community, Awgu council Area of Enugu State, knew no bounds as the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) presented them with a lorry-load of relief materials valued at millions of naira.

    The disaster, on April 23, 2018, ravaged residential and commercial buildings in parts of the community.

    Speaking during the presentation and flag-off of the direct distribution to the affected persons held in the community, Director General of NEMA, Mr. Mustapha Maihaja, an engineer, who sympathised with them, said the federal government’s gesture was aimed at cushioning the effect of the natural disaster on them.

    He said, “The violent windstorm that ravaged Agbogugu community, Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State on the 23rd of April, 2018 was brought to the attention of NEMA through widespread media reports , Enugu state Emergency management Agency (ESEMA) and phone calls from other well-meaning sons of the land.”

    Maihaja, who was represented at the event by the South- East zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Mr. Walson Brandon, disclosed that the agency had earlier carried out a joint assessment to ascertain the level of the disaster in the affected area, on April 25, 2018.

    He added that the team that went for the assessment assignment were made up of its staff from the Southeast zonal office, SEMA, alongside a  member of the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Toby Okechukwu, who represents the affected community in the lower chamber of the nation’s National Assembly.

    The NEMA boss said, “The assessment conducted revealed that several buildings both residential and commercial had their roofs blown off, economic trees were pulled down, leading to displacement of residents and dislocation of means of livelihood.”

    He said the assessment, equally revealed that most of the affected persons do not have the capacity to rebuild their houses or restart their businesses” thus the submission made to our headquarters for assistance to the affected persons is the course for our gathering here today.

    “The responsiveness of the federal government on the plight of disaster victims has been quite prompt and encouraging, we received approval of relief items in accordance with our mandate and have thus delivered them to the affected communities.”

    The DG, stressed thus” please, note that the relief materials brought to you today is not to replace what you lost during the violent windstorm, but to cushion the effect of the unfortunate incident.”

    He advised people of the community to embrace tree planting around their homes and commercial buildings that would act as wind breakers, just as he asked them to cut down huge tress near residential buildings that have become risks to the people.

    In their separate remarks, president general of the community, Simon Chijioke Udeh, and traditional rulers from the four autonomous communities of the locality, had expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for the intervention, saying the gesture has wiped away the tears of the victims.

    Items donated to the victims included 250 bags of rice, 250 bags of garri, beans, maize, cement, roofing sheets, detergents, nylon mats, mosquitoes nets, bathing soaps, clothes, foams, mattresses  blankets, zinc, and nails, among others.

  • 150,000 persons displaced by flood in Bayelsa

    ONE hunderd and fifty persons have been displaced by flood in Bayelsa State, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said yesterday.

    Mr Yakubu Suleiman, co-ordinator, Emergency Operation Centre E, Rivers/Bayelsa Territory of NEMA spoke in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yenagoa.

    Suleiman said homes, farmlands, schools and churches were submerged in eight local government areas.

    He said the agency was taking inventory to ensure people were free from diseases.

    Suleiman said the displaced persons have been evacuated to the Internal Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp in Biseni, and some tents have been mounted at Egbebiri, all in Sagbama council.

    “We have carried out assessment on the affected communities, and we discover that no fewer than 150, 000 persons have been displaced and the number keep growing because the water is rising daily.

    “Several communities have been submerged; markets, schools, hospitals and churches are already under the water.

    “We have cleared some portions of lands for the IDPs at Biseni and we have mounted some tents at Egbebiri Community, all in Sagbama LGA.

    “We have over 110 tents to be mounted in different locations; the emergency monitoring team is working round the clock to ensure that every affected home is assisted.

    “The medical teams are on ground from the Federal and State Ministries of Health, to be assisted by members of the Red Cross Society, to avoid spread of diseases as a result of polluted water.

    “On potable water for the affected persons, we have brought water treated plants to be installed in the camp, so, that the people will have access to portable water,” he said.

    NAN recalls that communities affected are in Adagbabiri, Anibeze, Biseni, and Trofani in Sagbama LGA.  Governor Seriake Dickson has said over 70 per cent of communities have been submerged.

    The governor spoke to reporters while visiting these communities with officials of NEMA, state security committee, Police, Army, Air Force, the Navy, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence, and others.

    A statement by the Special Adviser to Governor on Media Relations, Mr. Fidelis Soriwei, on Sunday, said the governor was in the middle of a road in front of his father’s compound at Toru Orua, with water rushing from the Forcados River into the community.

    The severity of the flood was such that some communities have been cut off.

    Those who came out on boats to meet the convoy said the road had been rendered impassible by the flood.

    Also, Dickson and his team visited other submerged communities.  People were  in need of shelter and relief materials at Sampou, Kaiama, Odi, as well as Sagbama, Bolou Orua, Toru Orua, and others in Sagbama and Kolokuma/Okpokuma councils.

    A substantial part of the state capital, Yenagoa, especially Tombia, Akempai, and others are affected by the flood.

    Dickson said the severity of the flood made the State Executive Committee and the State Security Committee to close schools in Bayelsa.

    He described the flood as a major disaster, which had rendered thousands homeless.

    The governor ordered public buildings not affected by the flood for immediate conversion be used as temporary internally displaced camps.

    He called on the Federal Government for support to  combat the humanitarian challenges.

    The governor, who urged the Federal Government to declare an emergency in the state, noted that Bayelsa was omitted when the government declared emergency in Kogi, Niger, Delta and Anambra.

    He argued that the flood situation in Bayelsa is inevitable as the state is below sea level with all major rivers and tributaries through which water flows from rivers Niger and Benue to the Atlantic Ocean.

    He said the government had set up a committee, comprising top officials and security services under Deputy Governor, Rear Admiral Gboribiogha John Jonah, to manage the situation.

    “We have spent the day going from one local government area to the other; going from one community  to the other; assessing the situation and seeing first hand  the way our people are coping with this major disaster.”

     

  • 12 states still in danger as Rivers Niger, Benue keep rising

    The raging flood, which has affected at least 12 states across the country, remains worrisome not only to the victims but also the government, as Rivers Niger and Benue continue to rise in volume, according to National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA)

    The current flood pattern, which experts say has shown indices of a similar natural disaster of 2012 in many parts of the country, has left hundreds of victims with tales of woes, with many others living in fear.

    A survey by the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) showed that some lives have been lost while  farms, houses and livestock destroyed as floods ravage communities most parts of North-Central Nigeria, the region said to be most hit in this year flood.

    NAN correspondents who visited some of the affected areas in the region, report that many communities, especially those contiguous to Rivers Niger and Benue, have been submerged and in the process, victims have been relocated to camps opened by respective governments or seek refugee with relations.

    The agency reports that worst hit states are: Kogi, Niger, Taraba, Benue and Plateau with Kogi having Lokoja, Ibaji, Koton-Karfe, Bassa, Igalamela, Omala, Ajaokuta, Ofu and Idah councils so far affected.

    Residents of the affected local government areas have been relocated to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps or taking refugee with friends and relations house.

    Parts of the Lokoja-Abuja road has also been threatened by the ever increasing floods. According to Alhaji Alhassan Aiyegba, Executive Secretary,Kogi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), 64 communities have been submerged by the flood.

    “There are camps for the displaced persons, but the situations gets worse every minute,’’ Aiyegba said.

    Mr Sanusi Yahaya, the Commissioner for Environment and Natutral Resources, in the state also told NAN that the situation was becoming much frightening as more communities were being submerged in Lokoja, the state capital.

    “Government has set up a camp for the flood victims in Lokoja, the capital city. The worst hit areas are Wada Estate and the Old Poly Quarters,’’ he said.

    He said that the state government was collaborating with relevant stakeholders to ensure that relief materials and the essential facilities were provided in the camp.

    “We have had challenge of water supply, but that has been resolved. Light and a clinic are other challenges because the camp has not been connected to the national grid. But since it is an emergency, we will be solving the problems as they are identified.

    “Accommodation is still adequate for the number of people that are in the camp so far, and the camp can still accommodate more people.

    “Officials of NEMA visited the IDP camps in Koton-karfe few days ago and on their way to Lokoja with other team sent by the Federal Government,” Yahaya said.

    The commissioner advised residents of flood-prone communities to immediately relocate to safer places to avoid loss of lives and property.

    Yahaya noted that all the indices in place before the 2012 flood occurred had manifested.

    Mr James Ahmadu, Director of Relief and Rehabilitation of the Kogi State Emergency Management Agency, told NAN that the flood victims had been trooping into camps in Lokoja in their large number since it was set up.

    Ahmadu said that the data of the victims were being accommodated as they arrived, adding that about 100 households had arrived the camp.

    “Many victims are still coming with  majority of them being women and children,” Ahmadu said.

    Mr Umar Zakari, the Camp Leader, said that most of the victims were from Adankolo quarters where he said property, foodstuff and farms were totally destroyed by flood.

    He commended the state government for the temporary accommodation provided for victims and urged relevant stakeholders to join with government to cushion the effect of the natural disaster.

    “We thank government for providing water, but we need food, mosquito nets, light and clinic. Our children are getting sick,” Zakari said.

    NAN reports that Kogi government had earlier set up five camps in Kotokarfe, where about 64 communities have been submerged by flood.

    Among the submerged communities are highly populated settlements like Akpaku, Akpo, Ajara, Banda, Kpakpasu, Ozale, Opkakere, Agbawu and Adabode, among others.

    Meanwhile, the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Nasir Ajanah, has disclosed that the High Court complex, in Koton-Karfe was among structures submerged by flood.

    He said the court would be relocated “to ensure that the development does not affect the dispensation of justice.”

    Ajanah, while assessing the extent of damage on the submerged complex, also said that the relocation became imperative to arrest the perennial breaks in the administration of criminal justice in the area.

    “The busiest prison yard in the state is located is this town. So, it is important that we relocate the court from here to another location within the town.

    “That is the most important thing to do now because this is a very busy place”, he said.

    Ajanah said the cost of putting up a new complex for the High Court and the Chief Magistrate’s Court in Koton-Karfe would be included in the state supplementary budget.

    He expressed optimism that the supplementary budget would be approved and money released.

    As more displaced persons rush to IDPs camps in the state, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Kogi chapter, has donated drugs to victims camps in Kogi and Kotonkarfe.

    Dr Kabiru Zubair, the state Chairman of the association, handed over the drugs to local government officials at the camps in Ogbakwu and Edeha communities.

    Zubair said: “We decided to visit the IDPs camps in Kotonkarfe to support and sympathise with them.

    The visit is also to educate them on hygiene in order to maintain clean environment and avoid outbreak of communicable diseases.

    “Today, we have donated drugs such as Vitamin C, anti-malaria, antibiotics to the camps’ to aid in the management of some common diseases likely to occur in this kind of situation.

    “We have also sensitised them on health education in order to avoid outbreak of cholera and other communicable diseases, because prevention is better than cure.”

    The chairman also said that the chapter was also collaborating with the state government to provide manpower in the clinics in the camps.

    According to him, doctors will be on ground in all the camps throughout the period of the flood to ensure that patients are well managed.

    The situation appears the same in Taraba where hundreds of farmlands have already been submerged.

    Our correspondent, who visited some of the areas in the state reports that the situation had been compounded by the release of water from Lagdo Dam in Cameroun with hit Local Governments being Gassol, Ibi,Lau and Karim Lamido.

    In Gassol, flood has destroyed mass of farmlands while the council Chairman, Mr Yahuza Yau, confirming that two bridges had been damaged.

    Yau said the council has set up a committee to compile the list of villages affected while residents of villages along river Benue have been advised to relocate.

    Benue, severely hit last year, flood is also facing similar experience this year, though on a much smaller scale so far.

    NAN investigation also revealed that Wadata, High Level, Wurkun, Guma, Otukpo, and Logo Local Governments, hit last year, had yet to suffer major flood damage this year. However, to forestall colossal damage, the Benue State Government has dug drainage in most parts of Makurdi and constructed several canals where flooding was massive last year.

    According to Emmamnuel Shior, Executive Secretary, Benue State Emergency Management Agency, major water channels have been opened to avoid floods.

    He said people were being sensitised to take care of the environment and avoid building near river or blocking water ways.

    NAN learnt that Makurdi International Market was being prepared for people that might be affected by floods.

    At the city centre, NAN found that people in flood-prone areas had mobilised themselves to evacuate blocked drainage.

    In Niger, NAN found a more devastating situation with Bosso Local Government with record of some deaths.

    In Shiroro Local Government, the story was devastating with communities like Nungu, Ungwan Bagudu, Rafin Gora, Mashigi, Ungwar-Abok submerged by flood while the IDPs were sheltered at the Zungeru Primary School.

    In Lapai Local Government Area, it was a picture of farms, houses and livestock destroyed but Gov Abubakar Sani, who visited the area promised to look into ways to control the menace.

    In Plateau, floods were being experienced in the traditional areas comprising Ungwan Rogo and other settlements along Bauchi road.

    Alhaji Alhassan Barde, the Executive Secretary,Plateau Emergency Management Agency, blamed the recurrent flood in the area on residents’ stubbornness.

    “People get unnecessarily stubborn; they keep building houses along waterways and in water logged areas, year after year.

    “Sometimes, they ignore advice to relocate in the face of imminent danger, until it is too late. This is sad,’’ he lamented.

    The Commissioner of Environment, Abdullahi Abbas, however, told NAN that everything was being done to check the menace.

    “The flood was devastating in the past, especially in 2012; we do not want a repeat.’’

     

    Kano State Govt. approves N100m to support flood victims

    Kano State Government has approved N100 million as direct financial assistance to victims of flood disaster which ravaged 15 local government areas of the state.

    The state commissioner for Information, Malam Mohammed Garba disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Kano yesterday.

    Garba said the state government found it necessary to give immediate direct support to flood victims in the eight affected local government areas of the state in view of the magnitude of the disaster.

    He , however, called on the federal government for special intervention to further alleviate the sufferings of the affected communities.

     

    Adamu urges Fed Govt to boost strategic reserve

    The Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, yesterday called for enhancement of the nation’s strategic reserve following fears of food shortage owing to the spate of flooding in the country.

    Adamu (APC-Nasarawa State), made the call in an interview with NAN in Abuja.

    He said it had become necessary for the nation to enhance its strategic reserve of the various food items.

    He called on the Federal Government to ensure price tag for every commodity as a way of forestalling food shortage in the country.

     

    Fed Govt pledges more resources to areas affected by flood in Anambra

    The Federal Government has pledged to deploy more relief materials to ameliorate the plight of flood victims in Umueze Anam in Anambra West Local Government Area (LGA) of Anambra state.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo made the promise yesterday when he visited the state to assess the flood situation.

    “I flew over those disaster areas and I witnessed the rise especially in Onitsha, Ogbaru, Awka North, Coscharis farm and other places.

    “We have directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), to continue deploying relief materials to various Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps and some settlements whose residents have refused to evacuate from their homes,” he said.

    Osinbajo, who noted that the federal government had earlier released some materials for the displaced persons, said his visit was to have an on-the-spot assessment of the real situation on ground.

    Governor Willie Obiano said his government had heeded early warnings by meteorologists and taken proactive steps to contain the eventuality.

    According to him, such steps include establishment and equipment of 29 Holding Centers across the flood-prone areas, activation of relevant emergency response activities among others.

    Obiano said government had commenced collation of data on the displaced families, adding that with support from the federal government, it will provide them succour to enable them resettle after the deluge.

     

    Edo govt directs flood victims to relocate to IDPs camp

    The Edo State government has directed  victims  of the flooding in  Etsako Central and Etsako East Local Government Areas  to relocate to the camp created for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

    Deputy Governor  Philip Shaibu gave the directive yesterday in Anegbette when he toured some of the affected communities.

    Shaibu assured the victims that government had made provisions for food, relief materials, health facilities and security at the IDPs camp pending the time the floodwater would recede.

    He underscored the need for the urgent evacuation of the flood victims to a safe location, adding that flooding could cause the outbreak of diseases.

    One of the flood victims, Mr Umaru Aminu, appealed to the government at all levels to come to their aid, saying that the flood incident had adversely affected them.

    He said that the flooding had taken over their farms and stopped their children from going to school.

     

    Winners’ Chapel donates

    The Living Faith Church (Winners’ Chapel), Lokongoma, Phase One, Lokoja on Thursday donated foodstuff to flood victims at Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps in Lokoja.

    Pastor Ben Oluyemi, the State pastor of the church, while handing over the items to the camp leader at flood hostel in Wada Estate, Lokoja, said the church was there to give help to alleviate the suffering of the flood victims.

    “We came to the IDP camp to represent our father in the Lord, Bishop David Oyedepo, whose custom is to always to help the needy. We are here with his permission to help the flood victims.

    “The church is the light of the world that is delivering the world out of poverty, lack, sickness and disease, and from all oppressions of the devil,” Oluyemi said.

     

    Bayelsa RIFAN

    The Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN), Bayelsa chapter, says apart from flooding, portfolio farmers are also hampering the development of rice production in the state.

    Mr Ezekiel Ogbianko, the Chairman of the association, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Yenagoa, called on both the federal and state government to come to their aid.

    “We are making progress in terms of rice farming in Bayelsa, but the challenges here are very enormous; they range from flooding to portfolio farmers.

    “The association is preparing for the dry season harvest, but the rain is not helping us; some of our lands at Ondowarie, Otuokpotu in southern-Ijaw Local Government Area have been submerged by flood.

    “Accessing the lands are difficult; we want the three tiers of government to help us; in the season’s harvest, we are expecting 4, 000 tonnes of rice because our plan is to make the local rice available for our people.”

     

     Katsina

    The Katsina State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) said it had registered 731 victims of flood in Baure Local Government Area of the state.

    Alhaji Haruna Rigoji, the SEMA Executive Secretary said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Baure on Thursday that the houses of 75 victims were completely destroyed.

    He added that the flood, recorded in Maibara district of the local government, also left 252 properties seriously damaged and 404 with partial damages.

    He assured that the agency would provide those whose houses were completely destroyed with alternative plots in safer areas and building materials to put up new structures.

     

     NYSC: no cause for alarm

    The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has said that there was no cause for alarm over the safety of corps members posted to serve in the areas affected by flooding in Anambra.

    The Coordinator of the NYSC in Anambra, Mr Kehinde Aremu, gave the assurance to corps members and Nigerians in an interview with NAN yesterday in Awka.

    Aremu said the scheme had asked employers who requested for Corps members to go to the various Local Government Headquarters for proper documentation of acceptance process.

    He disclosed that those already serving in the affected places had been directed to move upland.

     

     

     

  • Flood: Kano donates N100m, urges FG intervention

    Kano state government has announced a direct financial assistance of N100 million to the victims of flood disaster in the state, with a call on the federal government’s special intervention to further alleviate the suffering of the affected communities.

    The state commissioner for information, youth and culture, Malam Muhammad Garba, who briefed newsmen in his office, Thursday, said that even though Kano was not among the 12 states the National Emergency Management Agency predicted to have intense flooding, the disaster wreaked havoc on many communities in eight local government areas of the state.

    Read Also: ‘Kano leading anti-corruption war’

    He said government was also compiling reports on the extent of destruction from the eight local government areas hit by the disaster to ascertain their value.

    Garba condoled on behalf of the state government with families who lost their loved ones in the disaster and cautioned the public, particularly those in flood prone areas against building structures on the waterways as it is one the major causes of flooding.

    The commissioner said the situation requires collaboration with relevant stakeholders to give the necessary support to the state government in managing the disaster.

  • Flooding: Edo intensifies work at resettlement camps, safe havens

    The Edo State Government has said that work has intensified at designated resettlement camps across the state to receive residents, who are displaced by flooding.

    Persistent rainfall in the past few weeks dislodged some persons from their homes, as the state government announced the opening of resettlement camps for residents that were adversely affected by the heavy downpours.

    The state government issued flood alert in parts of the state last week, following new predictions that the state will experience flooding incidence with the persistent rainfall and the release of water from dams in neighbouring countries.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties, Mr Yakubu Gowon, said that an inter-ministerial committee to oversee the relocation of affected persons and running of the resettlement camps and safe havens has been set up.

    He disclosed that the committee is made up of officials of the state Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), special assistants to the governor in the various wards, officials of ministries of infrastructure, environment and health, local council chairmen, members of the Red Cross, Fire Service and local government councillors, who are on standby to assist people in distress.

    He listed the areas earmarked as safe havens to include “the Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDP) camp in Oghomere in Etsako Central Local Government Area and the skills acquisition centre in Fugar.

    Read Also: Edo intensifies promotion of local languages

    “In Esan South East Local Government Area, the council hall and the hall of St. Benedict Catholic Church in Ubiaja will serve as safe haven.  In Ikpoba-Okha local council, Western Boys High School hall has been pencilled down to receive those displaced from their homes in the council area,” he added.

    He said that men and women will be separated in the camps to protect their rights and assured that effort is being made to procure more relief materials to be delivered when the camps are ready.

    “In Ovia North East, the local government chairman has donated a place in Okada while another place in Gelegele, in the same local council will provide succour to flood victims,” Gowon said.

    The governor’s aide maintained that the relevant ministries have desilted blocked drainages to ease the flow of water in the city.

    Two weeks ago, Edo State government donated relief materials to communities affected by windstorm in Esan West and Owan West local government areas of the state. Similar donation had been made in ten local councils where windstorm destroyed houses.

    Handing over the relief materials on behalf of the state government to chairmen of the two local councils in Benin City, the state capital, Gowon said “This is a continuous exercise, we have donated relief materials to communities in about 12 local government areas and we have been receiving letters of appreciation from the beneficiaries.

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the National Hydrological Services Agencies (NHISA) have warned that 12 states across the country would experience flooding due to torrential rain falls.

    The two agencies gave the warning during an emergency stakeholders’ meeting held with relevant stakeholders in Abuja.

    Mr Clem Nze, Director, Engineering Hydrology, NHISA, listed the states to include: Kogi, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara, Edo, Anambra, Rivers, Bayelsa and Delta states, from the River Niger axis.

    He also listed Taraba, Benue and Adamawa as states to be affected from the River Benue axis.

    He said that the decision to raise the alarm was to ensure preparedness among stakeholders and residents of flood-prone communities.

    The NEMA and NHISA alert followed a similar alert issued by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMeT), warning of high floods in some identified states across the country including Edo.