The Nation Newspaper

Tag: windstorm

  • Edo donates relief materials to communities affected by windstorm 

    Edo State Government has donated relief materials to communities affected by windstorm in Esan West and Owan West local government areas of the state.

    The Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Special Duties, Hon. Yakubu Gowon, handed 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 governor Obaseki had earlier extended similar gesture to some communities in other local government areas in the state where windstorm wreaked havoc three months ago.

    He explained that Governor Obaseki has fulfilled the promise he made shortly after the disaster, to assist the affected communities.

    “This is a continuous exercise; as at date, we have donated relief materials to communities in about 12 local government areas and we have been receiving letters of appreciation from the beneficiaries.

    “While some states in the country that experienced similar disaster are still waiting for the support of the federal government, the Edo State government has gone ahead to render assistance to these communities,” he said.

    Receiving the items, the chairmen of the councils commended the Obaseki-led administration for bringing succour to the affected persons.

    The Chairman of Owan West Council, who was represented by Mr George Ohioma, assured that committees would be set up to oversee the distribution of the items as directed by the state government.

    The Chairman of Esan West LGA, represented by Osborn Elimhele said “we are happy about the intervention from the state government and we will ensure that the affected people get the materials.”

    The relief materials include roofing sheets, bags of cement, ceiling boards and bags of nails.

  • Windstorm: Buhari sends delegation to Bauchi

    President Muhammadu Buhari has directed the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, to lead a Federal Government delegation to Bauchi State following the windstorm incident which destroyed 1,505 houses in the state capital.

    Eight persons have been confirmed dead while 120 others were reported injured in the incident.

    Azare, another major town was struck by a major fire disaster that destroyed a market in the town few days later.

    The delegation, according to a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Garba Shehu, also includes the Director General of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Engr. Mustapha Yunusa Maihaja.

    He said the delegation would assess the extent of damage caused by the disaster.

    “Already, NEMA has started mobilising relief items from its warehouses located in Damaturu and Yola for onward distribution to those displaced by the windstorm. The aid materials are expected to reach Bauchi on Tuesday evening while assessment is being conducted on the fire incident in Azare,” the statement said.

    In an earlier message on Monday, President Buhari extended his deepest sympathies to victims of the windstorm and fire incidents.

     

     

  • 19 injured as windstorm destroys Borno IDPs camp

    Nineteen persons were injured and over 300 tents destroyed when  windstorm hit Arabic International School Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camp at Gamboru-Nagala, Ngala Local Government Area of Borno State yesterday.

    An eyewitness said the storm started about 3.30 pm and lasted over one hour.

    Nobody died but the injured are being treated at the camp clinic.

    A camp official, who pleaded for anonymity, noted that most IDPs are now without shelter.

    He added that IDPs are prone to such mishaps due to the nature of their shelters and the windstorms associated with rain around the Borno/Yobe axis.

    He said: “You know that the kind of shelter provided for the IDPs are temporary and so cannot withstand the strong winds that usually come with rain around the Borno/Yobe axis. This period is not good for them. They are vulnerable to these kinds of mishaps.”

    Officials of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Borno State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) could not be reached for comments.

  • Windstorm kills 3, destroy 139 houses in Sokoto State

    Windstorm kills 3, destroy 139 houses in Sokoto State

    Three persons were killed on Monday when windstorms ravaged some neighbourhoods in Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State.

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) disclosed this in Sokoto on Thursday via a statement issued by Mr Sulaiman Muhammad, the Head of its Sokoto Zonal Operations Office.

    The statement said that the windstorms also destroyed 46 houses and injured one person in the same local government.

    Similarly, windstorms damaged 93 houses in Tambuwal Local Government Area of the state.

    However, the statement said that no death was recorded in the incidents but four persons were injured.

    “Over 1,000 households were affected in the two local governments, with Jabo town and Tambuwal Local Government Area worst affected.

    “The agency had since assessed the extent of damage caused by the disasters and arrangements are being made to donate relief materials to the victims,’’ Muhammad was quoted as saying in the statement.

  • 5000 affected by windstorm in four states, says NEMA

    No fewer than 5000 persons have been affected by windstorm across the SouthWest this year alone.

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), which broke the news yesterday, noted that about 600 houses have been destroyed.

    Urging Nigerians to be cautious of climate related disasters, the agency stated that about 250 pupils of Unity Secondary School, Ikire, Osun State, have been displaced by fire incident.

    NEMA’s zonal coordinator, Iyiola Akande urged Nigerians to embark on voluntary tree-planting to cushion the effect of climate change.

    After assessing the extent of damage in Ijebu-Igbo, Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State, Akande said that over 200 houses were destroyed by windstorm and about 3,314 persons affected.

    “In Idi Araba town in Ogo Oluwa Local Government Area and Onipanu town in Surulere Local Government Area all in Oyo State, about 100 houses were destroyed and over 800 persons affected,” he said.

    Akande said the windstorm destroyed over 515 houses in Ekiti State with Hail Storm causing severe destruction in Omu-Ekiti and hail pebble injuring one person.

    “About 1,099 people were affected in Ado Ekiti and Omu Ekiti altogether and Osogbo and Ilesa West communities had bitter taste of the windstorm with scores of houses and several people affected.

    “Earlier, we had assessed the destruction of two blocks of hostel at Unity Secondary School, Ikire, Osun State where over 250 children have been affected and 80 of them are due to start their final examinations.”