By Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
No fewer than nine local government council areas in kogi state have been submerged by flood while over seventy percent of people in Koton Karfe, Ibaji, Lokoja and Bassa communities now take shelter by the road side and schools.
The affected Local government areas sacked by flooding in Kogi according to our correspondent are Ibaji, Koton Karfe, Ajaokuta, Igalamela, Lokoja, Ofu, Bassa, Idah, and Omala respectively.
Lamenting at the floor of the Kogi State House of Assembly on Wednesday, the lawmaker representing Kogi Koton – Karfe constituency, Hon. Abubakar Tanko Muhammed in a motion of urgent public importance said the effect of the flood was devastating and worrisome, stressing that most people in the Local government have lost their houses, farm lands and source of livelihood.
”Am on my knees, Mr Speaker, almost all my constituent have been taken over by flood and my people sacked from their homes. Things are becoming unbearable. The Federal and State Government needs to do something before the situations gets out of hand. Their lives are currently in danger” Muhammed pleaded.
He called on the State Government and the National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA) to come to the aid of the people affected by flood in the state adding that, things are becoming unbearable for the people.
In their various contributions, the members representing Lokoja I constituency, Hon. Umar Isah Tenimu, Dekina/Biraidu, Hon. Idoko Moses Ododo, and Dekina/Okura, Enema Paul respectively called for synergy among the ministry of health, and rural development, stressing the need for immediate creation of IDP camps across affected Local government areas in the state.
Meanwhile, assengers, Vehicles From Eastern Part of the Country are currently Stranded In Lokoja as flood takes over the only road leading in and out of Lokoja around the Ganaja axis of Lokoja
According to our correspondent, holdups have extended to Salem University Lokoja due to the impassable road that has trapped trucks and several number of vehicles with commuters, seen in clusters lamenting on the ugly development as they cannot continue their journey.
Our reporter gathered that the flood has taken over the road leading to Kabawa, along Post office, 500 units Housing estate of the town and Ganaja village roundabout down to extreme end of Ganaja.
Houses, property and farmlands along river Niger banks in Lokoja have also been taken over by the flood thereby rendering thousands of people homeless in Kogi.
Commuters stressed the need for the state government to construct the Ganaja bypass road through Otokiti to Army Barracks known as “Wada road” started by the immediate past administration to serve as an alternative road to help in difficult times like this.
Residents and commuters therefore appealed to Governor Yahaya Bello not to play politics with matters of public importance as the bypass road means a lot to the residents of Lokoja, Kogi East and the Eastern part of the country.
Some of those who spoke to our correspondent challenged Governor Yahaya Bello to emulate the leadership qualities of President Muhammadu Buhari who has painstakingly continued and completed most projects initiated and started by the former president, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan’s led administration.
Lokoja residents therefore called on the federal government to assist the flood victims in Kogi with relief materials and temporary shelter to alleviate their suffering.
