By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
In its bid to prevent casualties in some flood prone Communities across the 21 Local Government areas of the state, the Kogi State Government has warned residents to relocate to higher ground before the flood sets in.
The Commissioner for Environmental, Victor Adewale Omofaiye warned against indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drainages and urged those in flood prone areas to relocate, stressing that there is highly level of destruction caused by indiscriminate dumping of wastes.
He noted that in as much as the people would not desist from dumping refuse on water ways the possibility of mitigating the effect of flooding will be reduced stressing that government agency is out to sensitize the people and create awareness for them to get themselves prepared for the upcoming flood.
According to him, going by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) prediction, Kogi will be experiencing high flooding this year.
He however restated the Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State commitment to tackling environmental issues in the State.
Earlier, the leader of Sarki Noma community expressed dissatisfaction over the position of the river in sarki Noma which according to him always over flow during the flood and consequently destroying houses and other valuable properties.
The general manager, Kogi state Sanitation and Waste Management Board, Mallam Abdulganiu Sanni had advice that every household should have waste bin stressing that this would go a long way to reduce the menace of dumping of refuse indiscriminately.
In his remarks, the Executive Director Kogi Atate Emergency Management Agency, (KOSEMA) commended Sarki Noma community for their collective effort in tackling flood issue, urging them not to relent in their efforts and that government is prepared to play its own part.
Also speaking, Mrs Dorcas Enehe the Director Climate change who declared the 2021 NIMET prediction about the flood confirmed that sensitization of the flood prone areas is ongoing in the State.
It would be recalled that the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) in May warned that 27 states including Kogi together with 121 local government areas will experience high risk flooding during this year’s rainy season.
