Kogi grapples with floodwaters threaten 258 communities in 8 councils
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Kogi is grappling with floodwaters that have completely submerged five communities in Ibaji Council, with the State Emergency Management Agency (KSEMA) warning settlements along Niger and Benue River banks to immediately relocate to safer grounds.
KSEMA Executive Secretary Mouktar Atima, who led the Emergency Response and Critical team on an advocacy visit to Health Commissioner Adams Abdullazeez, said the state is no longer safe due to the rising water levels in Rivers Niger and Benue.
Atima cited charts from dam experts and managers across the country and warned that excessive water would begin to pour into Rivers Niger and Benue from the night of September 23 which would cause an overflow of the river banks.
His words: “No fewer than 258 communities in eight local government areas of the state have been marked as flood-prone areas while 42 internally displaced persons (IDP) camps have been constructed to take care of those to be displaced and an emergency operations centre has been opened.
“Five communities in Ibaji Local Government Area of the state are worst hit including Ota, Ofogbo, Itima and Owara community in Kogi Local Government Area.”
Atimah said the Ministry of Health is key to disaster management and informed Abdullazeez that rising water levels in Rivers Niger and Benue will put the state in a difficult period in the next 72 hours.
He commended Abdullazeez for his proactive measures and support given to KSEMA which led to zero casualty in last year’s floods.
Abdullazeez said the ministry is for both healthcare and human services and is adequately prepared to tackle or mitigate any disaster in the state.
He disclosed that the ministry has begun the fumigation of all the 42 IDP camps in preparation for floods and has fully mobilised personnel and materials to attend to flood victims.
“My ministry is aware that there may be outbreak of diseases or epidemics in the various IDP camps and we are fully prepared,” he assured.
He commended Governor Usman Ododo for his commitment to healthcare, citing his prompt intervention in last year’s flooding in which no life was lost.
Read also:
