The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Sanusi Yahaya

  • Kogi distributes relief items to flood victims at Omala

    The Kogi State Government on Friday donated foodstuffs and other relief materials to victims of the recent flood disaster in Omala Local Government Area of the state.

    Speaking with newsmen at the distribution centre in Omala, Mr Sanusi Yahaya, the State Coordinator, Emergency

    1,182 households comprising 7,090 persons were affected by the 2018 flood disaster in Omala LGA.

    The state government had earlier distributed relief items to flood victims in Lokoja, Kotonkarfe, Bassa, Ajaokuta, Ofu, Idah and Igalamela/Odolu LGAs.

    Represented by Mr Godwin Onu, the Director, Account, Kogi Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Yahaya assured the victims of government’s commitment to alleviating their sufferings.

    Yahaya, who doubles as the state Commissioner for Environment said that the second phase of the distribution would come from the Federal Government through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

    He therefore advised the victims to remain calm, receive the items in good faith and share them accordingly without fomenting any trouble.

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    Earlier, Mr Yakubu Ocholi, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Emergency said that the state government through SEMA, had earlier visited the affected riverside communities for needs assessment and documentation.

    He said that six communities in Omala would benefit from the first phase of the distribution of the relief items, with an assurance that the items would get to the victims directly.

    Ocholi added that the federal and state governments were collaborating with other stakeholders to find lasting solutions to the re-occurring flood issues in the state.

    Mr Phillip Ocheni, who spoke on behalf of the victims appreciated the state government for the gesture and

    Items donated to the victims include bags of rice, beans, flour, guinea corn, maize, cartons of tomatoes, beverages, salt, red oil, Semovita, soaps/detergent, mattresses and mats.

  • Flooding in Kogi State

    Heavy rains experienced in Kogi State during the year has continued to wreak havoc, claiming lives and destroying properties, with scores of communities already submerged by flood in the Kotonkarfe area.

    The severity of the situation was which was witnessed by members of the State Emergency Management Agency, led by the Director of Relief and Rehabilitation,

    The State Emergency Management Agency confirmed that more than 60 villages were submerged by flood in the last one month.

    A representative of Head of Operations at the NEMA headquarters, Abuja, Reuben Babatunde, during an on the spot assessment to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp at Edeha, confirmed that at least one live was lost to the flood.

    According to him: “The state has set up five temporary camps for victims, in collaboration with the local government, and that is why NEMA is here to assess the situation. This is a natural disaster but NEMA would do its best to respond as fast as possible.

    “The local government official said that 64 villages have been submerged.”

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    The Kogi 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.

    The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Sanusi Yahaya, made the announcement in a statement issued issued in Lokoja.

    “The Kogi State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources wishes to announce to members of the public, especially those in the nine flood-prone local government areas to relocate.

    “In view of the heavy rainfall recorded so far this year due to climate change, as well as the high volume of water from tributaries of Rivers Niger and Benue, which has led to steady rise in water level of the rivers, as confirmed by our monitoring team.

    “This development may likely cause flooding in some flood-prone LGAs: Omala, Bassa, Kogi/Kotonkarfe, Lokoja, Ajaokuta, Ofu, Idah, Ibaji, and Igalamela/Odolu.

    “The ministry, therefore, strongly appeal and request the people living in these flood-prone LGAs, particularly those living close to river banks, to start moving to safer ground, to avoid loss of lives and property in the event of flood.”

    He said that the state government had started preparing temporary shelters for flood victims in the event of emergencies.

  • Kogi advises residents to relocate from flood-prone areas

    The Kogi 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.

    Mr Sanusi Yahaya, the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, made the announcement in a statement in Lokoja.

    “The Kogi Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources wishes to announce to members of the public, especially those in the nine flood-prone local government areas to relocate.

    “In view of the heavy rainfall recorded so far this year due to climate change, as well as the high volume of water from tributaries of Rivers Niger and Benue, which has led to steady rise in water level of the rivers, as confirmed by our monitoring team.

    “This development may likely cause flooding in some flood-prone LGAs: Omala, Bassa, Kogi/Kotonkarfe, Lokoja, Ajaokuta, Ofu, Idah, Ibaji, and Igalamela/Odolu.

    “The Ministry, therefore, strongly appeal and request the people living in these flood-prone LGAs, particularly those living close to river banks, to start moving to safer ground, to avoid loss of lives and property in the event of flood,” Yahaya said.

    He said that the state government had started preparing temporary shelters for flood victims in the event of emergencies.

    Yahaya assured the people that the protection of their lives and property would continue to be given utmost attention by the New Direction Administration of Gov. Yahaya Bello.

  • Kogi constructs 23 public toilets to curb open defecation

    Kogi State Government said it has constructed 23 public toilets in some major towns across the state as part of efforts to discourage open defecation among residents.

    The state’s Commissioner for Environment and Physical Development, Mr Sanusi Yahaya, disclosed this on Tuesday in Lokoja while speaking during an advocacy visit by a team from the Justice Development and Peace Commission (JDPC).

    He said that 18 of the toilet facilities were constructed by the previous administrations while the administration of Gov. Yahaya Bello built five in Lokoja, Isanlu, Okene, Ogugu and Ayingba.

    He said that, while those located in Lokoja, Isanlu and Ogugu had been inaugurated, works were nearing completion on those located in Okene and Anyigba, saying that the toilets were fitted with boreholes.

    Yahaya said adequate provisions had been made in the state’s 2018 budget for the construction of more public toilets in some other major towns to promote hygiene and sanitation among the people.

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    The Commissioner said that his ministry has held series of meetings with market leaders in Lokoja on the need to stop dumping refuse in River Niger, saying that another public toilet will be constructed at the Kpata market in Lokoja to curb open defection along the bank of the river.

    According to him, landlords in major towns in the state are also being encouraged to provide toilet facilities in their houses.

    The commissioner explained that the state government will not hesitate to sanction any landlord that fails to comply.

    He said that state government was intensifying efforts to complete the ongoing embankment project on the bank of River Niger.

    He said that the project when completed will put an end to perennial flooding of Kabawa, Sarki Noma, Galililee and Kpapatankoto areas of Lokoja.

    Yahaya disclosed that government had engaged a private firm to handle the cleaning and evacuation of waste in Lokoja to the designated dump site, where a waste recycling plant was being constructed.

    The commissioner, however, said that some undesirable elements had embarked on the destruction of waste bins placed in strategic points in Lokoja, asking members of the public and civil society to help curb this.

    He lauded the JDPC in Lokoja and Idah dioceses for embarking on an advocacy programme aimed at improving water, hygiene and sanitation in 13 selected communities of the state, expressing government’s readiness to partner with the organisation to achieve its objectives.

    Earlier, the Coordinator of JDPC in Lokoja diocese, Rev.Fr. Leonard Odomeja told the commissioner that the advocacy project was aimed at bridging the gap between duty bearers and citizens.

    Odomeja, who was represent by the Secretary of the organisation, Mr Simon Enejoh, said that the programme had helped in recording an improvement in sanitation and hygiene of the communities where it is being implemented.

    He also said that the advocacy project was being expanded to cover more communities in the state, urging the state to deploy more sanitary inspectors to sustain and improve upon the achievement being recorded.

    NAN