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| Credit: Channels TV |
At least 100 communities in six local government areas of Niger
State have been submerged by flood since the beginning of this year’s rainy
season.
It was also said that thousands of people had been
rendered homeless in Mokwa, Lapai, Agaie Katcha, Edati and Lavun Local
Government Areas as a result of the disaster.
The State Governor
, Abubakar Sani Bello, was reported by his Chief Press Secretary, Jibrin Ndace, to have made this known after carrying out an aerialinspection of the affected communities.
The governor, according to a statement, also disclosed
that “a number of people have died as a result of the incident.”
that “a number of people have died as a result of the incident.”
According to the governor, apart from the heavy rain
water, tributaries of Rivers Kaduna and Niger caused the flood.
water, tributaries of Rivers Kaduna and Niger caused the flood.
Governor Bello, who was said to be speaking in Muye town
in Lapai Local Government Area after conducting the aerial inspection of the
affected communities, declared that: “The situation has gone beyond the
capacity of the state” and called for federal government’s intervention.
in Lapai Local Government Area after conducting the aerial inspection of the
affected communities, declared that: “The situation has gone beyond the
capacity of the state” and called for federal government’s intervention.
“What I saw today is very devastating. On a rough
estimate, more than a 100 communities have been submerged in water and it
doesn’t appear that the water is receding. That we have not seen the end of it
is very disturbing. The situation is definitely getting out of hand and it is
beyond what the state can do,” he said.
estimate, more than a 100 communities have been submerged in water and it
doesn’t appear that the water is receding. That we have not seen the end of it
is very disturbing. The situation is definitely getting out of hand and it is
beyond what the state can do,” he said.
Bello stated that the state government on its part would
ensure the provision of relief materials and the relocation of the victims from
the areas.
ensure the provision of relief materials and the relocation of the victims from
the areas.
“This flood starts all the way from Kede, towards Muregi
down to Muye along the river bank. So definitely at this point, we will have to
seek for the support of the federal government and that is exactly what we are
going to do.
down to Muye along the river bank. So definitely at this point, we will have to
seek for the support of the federal government and that is exactly what we are
going to do.
“The first step taken by the state government is to send
some relief materials to the affected communities because I strongly believe
they will lack food at this time and the final step and probably the lasting
solution is to relocate them at some point but now we have to take care of
their immediate needs with regards to food and drugs,” the governor declared.
some relief materials to the affected communities because I strongly believe
they will lack food at this time and the final step and probably the lasting
solution is to relocate them at some point but now we have to take care of
their immediate needs with regards to food and drugs,” the governor declared.
The governor had recently directed the release of N60
million for the provision of relief materials for flood victims in the State.
million for the provision of relief materials for flood victims in the State.
