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Tag: Flood

  • Five Dead As Building Of Flood Victims Collapses In Kogi

    Five Dead As Building Of Flood Victims Collapses In Kogi

    From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja

    Five persons were reported dead when a storey building at Ayah town in Ibaji local government area of Kogi state collapsed and left some unconscious with severe injuries.

    The building which was said to belong to one Sunday Ineke Inajor collapsed on Wednesday due to the flooding of houses in the affected Ibaji communities.

    A reliable source said, the building  which top floor was occupied by many natives of Ayah who are flood victims collapsed Wednesday night leaving heavy casualties.

    It was gathered that many residents who could not be evacuated from danger surged to few storey buildings available in their areas have remained amidst severe hunger since the past one month the disaster has lasted.

    “A house collapsed at Ayah community, five people died instantly, many are unconscious while many were injured,” a native of Ibaji, Mr. Saturday Aromeh, raised the alarm on Thursday.

    It was gathered that the injured persons are still within the scene of the incident as the flood could not allow their evacuation to the hospital in Idah for medical attention.

    Both government and relief agencies have not shown up in Ibaji since the flood disaster commenced over a month ago despite several alarm raised by different socio-cultural groups, NGO and individuals.

    Despite several efforts to draw the attention of the government to the plights of the victims who were in dire need of evacuation, medication, food and provision of Internally Displaced Persons, IDP Camps by Ibaji Development Association failed.

    Some leaders and politicians from the local government who reacted to the Wednesday incident that claimed five lives under the condition of anonymity, lambasted government for refusing to intervene and rescue the flood victims who had been trapped in their communities under dangerous conditions for several weeks.

    “It is surprising that our appeals to various levels of government had fallen on deaf ears while the people affected by the flood have been passing through hell and now to the extent of dying due to negligence of the agencies responsible for evacuating them,” our sources revealed.

    The Ibaji Unity Forum, an umbrella socio-cultural group for Ibaji indigenes had sent a save-our-soul letters to government and the National Emergency Relief Agency, NEMA to provide relief assistance to the flood victims but there has not been any official response even when relief materials are being distributed to victims in the state.

    In one of the letters to the Director General of NEMA a copy of which was obtained, says “we write to solicit urgent support, intervention, relief materials and palliatives for the people of Ibaji whose entire land area is submerged by this year’s (2022) flood.”

    “The people of Ibaji LGA with a population of over 197,000, according to 2006 Population Census are urgently in need of the following: Medicals and drugs, food, clothes and temporary shelter (IDP camps) etc.”

    The SOS signed by one Barrister Stephen Ucholla and Engr. Henry Akoje, President and Secretary of the organization respectively, also made a passionate appealed to the state Governor, Yahaya Bello to pay a visit to the flood ravaged communities in Ibaji.

    The visit according to the letter was enable him  evaluates the monumental damages done to lives and property with a view to providing relief assistance to the affected people but to no avail.

    However, investigations reveal that more troubles are in the offing as  many inhabitants of Ibaji communities could be homeless and prone to hunger as many buildings have been destroyed, roads cut off while their farms and unharvested crops before the incident occurred had been completely destroyed.

  • FG distributes relief Materials to 21 Flood states – Farouq

    FG distributes relief Materials to 21 Flood states – Farouq

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    The Federal Government has distributed relief materials to 21 states affected by the flood in recent times.

    Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouq confirmed the distribution of relief items to affected states at a briefing to keep the public abreast of response and interventions made so far by the ministry and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on the flood situation across the country.

    Farouq stated that distribution of food and non-food items to other states were already ongoing.

    “ A total of 21 States have received relief materials so far. These States are Abia, Adamawa, Anambra, Bayelsa, Ekiti, Enugu, FCT, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kwara, Lagos , Nassarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo , Sokoto, Taraba and Yobe.”

    “While specialized teams are on the ground, there are still some States and local governments that are inaccessible and hard to reach. To address this, we are working with the Military Disaster Response Units and other stakeholders with specialized skills and equipment to ensure that we use other means to reach hard-to-reach areas and people at risk.”

     
    “Distribution to other states impacted by floods in Nigeria is ongoing. The materials being distributed are emergency food items and non-food items including rice, maize, garri, vegetable oil, tin of tomatoes, seasoning and beans. The non-food items are materials used to assist with temporary shelters for displaced communities including roofing sheets, cement, nails, ceiling boards, blankets, nylon mats and zinc.”

    The Minister also disclosed that the Search and Rescue Operations have been on their toes since the flooding started and have continued to evacuate, relocate and refer victims to hospitals for immediate care. She called on other stakeholders to join in efforts to assist affected flood victims.

    She urged other Ministries, Departments and Agencies such as Water Resources, Health, Works and Housing, Agriculture and Environment to join in briefing with their updates on operations to resolve the emergency on ground.

    I also implore government at all levels, especially State and Local Governments, to share information with us and also play their role in the response, in line with the National Flood Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan, she said.

     
     “I commend local communities for their resilience. We received a report that in 144 LGAs, local communities worked together to provide the primary response to their families and neighbors. The Search and Rescue Team, which is responsible for evacuating people and providing life-saving first aid and medical support and referrals to hospitals, has so far been able to reach 199 local government areas within 25 states.”

    “These operations are ongoing, and I urge communities at risk to adhere to warnings and instructions issued by these teams as they work to protect and save lives.”

    “Our express our sincere appreciation to his Excellency President Muhammadu BUHARI for his support and timely special intervention in addressing the flood intervention.”

    “A high-level delegation will visit some states next week to follow up on operations and to identify any new challenges and gaps in the operations that need to be addressed. This will enable government to access the situation on the ground and provide and meet with victims and families that have been affected.”

    Giving a rundown of the flood situation the minister said, ‘As of 24th October 2022, 3,219,780 persons were reportedly affected by floods in 2022. “
     
    1,427,370 persons have been internally displaced, approximately 2,776 persons were injured, approximately 612 people lost their lives, 181,600 houses partially damaged and another 123,807 houses totally damaged. 176,852 hectares of farmlands partially damaged while 392,399 hectares of farmlands have been totally damaged.

  • Every Single Community In Bayelsa Is Affected By Flood – Gov Diri

    Every Single Community In Bayelsa Is Affected By Flood – Gov Diri

    Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Duoye Diri, has lamented the ravaging flooding across the country, saying every community in the state is affected.

    The governor disclosed this during an interview on Channels Television’s Newsnight, a pre-recorded show on Sunday.

    Obviously worried, Diri said the state government has converted primary and secondary schools that are not flooded into Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps.

    Noting that the whole state is now one big IDP camp, the governor explained that centres have been opened particularly in Yenagoa, the capital, to house displaced persons and begin to attend to their needs.

    This is even as he explained that the state government, through its task force and the State Emergency Management Agency, has begun distributing items to cushion the effect of flooding on the people.

    “Every community in Bayelsa is an IDP camp. However in Yenagoa the capital city, we have designated some IDP camps. It is not an exaggeration, every community is an IDP camp,” Diri said.

    “We have a place called the Oxbow Lake which was used as an event centre. Today, that place has been opened for IDPs and we have no less than 2,000 IDPs in that centres. We also have all primary and secondary schools that are not yet flooded have been used as an IDP camp.”

    “That is why the Task Force, together with the State Emergency Management Agency keep distributing foodstuff to every local government and every community because no community is left out.”

    According to Diri, the state government is concerned about the possible outbreak of diseases among the IDPs.

    To address the issue, he stated that the Ministry of Health has also commenced the distribution of drugs to the people while the situation lasts.

    Bayelsa is one of the over 22 states in Nigeria that has been grappling with the issue of flooding recently. The situation has sacked many people from their homes and has destroyed many farmlands, with fears about the security of food.

    Already, over 600 persons have died in the recent floodings in Nigeria as of last Sunday.

    The disaster had also forced more than 1.3 million from their homes, said a statement by Nigeria’s ministry of humanitarian affairs, released on Twitter.

    “Unfortunately, over 603 lives have been lost as of today October 16, 2022,” said Humanitarian Affairs Minister Sadiya Umar Farouq.

    The previous toll from last week stood at 500, but the numbers had risen in part because some state governments had not prepared for the floods, said the minister.

  • Peter Obi Calls for Urgent State of Emergency Declaration On Flood

    Peter Obi Calls for Urgent State of Emergency Declaration On Flood

    The Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi has said that the country ought to have declared flood disaster emergency in some areas of the country.

    Obi who paused his National Presidential Campaign to enable him empathize with the victims of the flood disaster in some states of the federation has visited Benue, Bayelsa and Anambra states and said that Federal Government ought to have declared national emergency on the natural disaster.

    According to the Labour Party Presidential flag bearer, the damage is much, the havoc is enormous and beyond states and individuals. “The infrastructural damage is extensive”

    In all the ravaged areas he visited, Ogbaru in Anambra state, Bayelsa state, Obi was received by excited crowd of leaders and their people who led him first hand through the extensive damage to roads, markets, health and school infrastructure.

    In Bayelsa state Governor Duoye Diri explained to Obi the extent of the damage and the extreme hardship the people are going through as a result. Obi commended the Governor for his proactive handling of the situation.

    Recall that while in Benue state on last week on similar sympathy visit, he rode in a paddled Canoe to meet the people at their IdP camps and they out of excitement crowned him ‘President of the of the People’

  • Atiku To Commence Tour Of Flooded States on Tuesday

    Atiku To Commence Tour Of Flooded States on Tuesday

    Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, will commence a tour of states with high incidents of flooding across all geo-political zones in the country on Tuesday.

    A press release by his Media Adviser, Paul Ibe states that the PDP presidential flag bearer will be visiting Bayelsa State, to kickstart the tour.

    According to Ibe, “the tours to states ravaged by flooding become incumbent in view of the trauma that the incidents have caused its victims.

    “Consequently, the tours will provide the presidential candidate the opportunity to have an on-sight impact assessment of these flooding incidents and give him a veritable window to input those ecological concerns in his policy documents.”

    Recall that the PDP presidential candidate had supported flood victims in Jigawa, Yobe and Kano long before now.

    According to the statement, “He was also the first candidate to speak on the issue and had counselled that persons living around the most vulnerable areas be temporarily evacuated following the alert by the meteorological agency that a further 24 states faced the risk of major flooding”.

  • Flood: WaterAid Nigeria Warns of Heightened Diseases Outbreak Amid Open Defecation in Communities

    Flood: WaterAid Nigeria Warns of Heightened Diseases Outbreak Amid Open Defecation in Communities

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
    Owing to increasing floodings in Nigeria , WaterAid Nigeriahas warmed that open defecation in affected communities would heightened disease outbreaks.

    WaterAid Nigeria raised this concern after the recent devastating flooding which reportedly claimed the lives of no less than 600 people and displaced thousands of people after washing away their homes.

    In a press statement issued today by Acting Country Director of WaterAid Nigeria, Abu Jibril made available to Daybreak, raised the concerns of diseases outbreak especially in communities where open defecation is practiced.
    The statement read,”The flooding has increased the risks for communities in flood prone regions, in a country where an estimated 38 million people are still forced to defecate in the open, and tens of millions more have very limited access to other forms of sanitation.
    When the water comes like it has now, washing away human waste, it raises the risk of disease outbreaks that could further cost lives and impoverish citizens. We need to act fast to avoid these outbreaks.”

     “People who have been forced out from their homes need food and shelter,  access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene.
    The number of displaced people forced to live in camps where access to safe water and good sanitation is further compromised have increased, with women and children most vulnerable and worst affected.
    A decent toilet and a bar of soap can literally save lives now, as they prevent diseases from breaking out.”
    WaterAid further raised concern that due to the devastating effects of climate change many people are living on worst crisis.
    The NGO called on the Federal Governmemt to go beyond campaigns to stop open defecation and international donors to join efforts at supporting communities where people defecate in the open with the basics of life such as shelter, food, safe water to drink and portable toilets.

  • Flood: Farouq Calls for Prompt Evacuation of Persons Living Along Water Channels

    Flood: Farouq Calls for Prompt Evacuation of Persons Living Along Water Channels

    …warns Government, LGs on impending floods
    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
    Owing to the recent flood disasters and increase in victims affected, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Umar Farouq has called for timely evacuation of persons living along water channels and other areas obstructing waterways.
    The minister also warned state governments, local government areas and community leaders, especially in Anambra, Delta, Cross River, Rivers and Bayelsa states, of the impending floods in the coming weeks.

    The Minister made this known at a media briefing on Sunday in Abuja, while enumerating government’s efforts in mitigating the disaster in the country, which she described as overwhelming.

    Umar Farouq lamented that despite concerted efforts to avert the consequences of the 2022 flooding season as forecast by the Nigerian Metrological Agency, many state governments did not prepare for the floods, adding that as a result, the toll of lives lost and property damaged has risen astronomically.

    She said, “Unfortunately, over 603 lives have been lost as of today, October 16, 2022. A total of 1,302,589 persons have been displaced, 2,504.095 persons have been affected on the whole, 2,407 persons have been injured, a total of 82,053 houses are completely damaged while 121,318 are partially damaged. 108,392 hectares of farmland were partially destroyed while 332,327 hectares were destroyed including many roads and other critical infrastructure.”

    “While we mourn the unfortunate boat mishap in Anambra State and other locations, please we must note that we are not completely out of the woods because the Metrological Agencies are warning that States like Anambra, Delta, Cross River, Rivers and Bayelsa are still at risk of experiencing floods up till the end of November.”

    “We are calling on the respective State Governments, Local Government Councils and Communities to prepare for more flooding by evacuating people living on flood plains to high grounds, provide tents and relief materials, fresh water as well as medical supplies for possible outbreak of water-borne diseases.”  

    The minister disclosed that as a follow-up , a high-powered delegation from the Ministry go on advocacy visit State Governors for more commitment to strengthening states’ response mechanisms as stipulated in the National Flood Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan.
    The Stakeholders , she explained are expected to work within their respective mandates to prevent deaths due to flooding or other health related diseases that may arise.

    The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Dr Nasir Sani Gwarzo is to lead a delegation to Cameroon next month, to discuss the periodic opening of the Lagdo dam with the authorities .

    The National Flood Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan will soon be implemented for better coordination of flood response protocol, as well as a sectoral approach to flood management at the National and Sub-National levels, the minister emphasized.
    Meanwhile, Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency , Alhaji Mustapha Habib Ahmed during the briefing said that almost all the 36 states and the FCT have received food and non-food items to mitigate various forms of disaster.

    Ahmed stated that the federal government’s presence is in every state of the federation, as Relief has gone to every state of the federation. We will continue to do our best to provide for the country “.
    End

  • FG distributes 12,000 Metric Tonnes of Food Items to Flood victims in Anambra, Jigawa, others

    FG distributes 12,000 Metric Tonnes of Food Items to Flood victims in Anambra, Jigawa, others

    By Joyce Remi-Babayeju

    The Federal Government has began distribution of 12,000 Metric Tonnes of food and non food items to Anambra, Jigawa and other states devastated by the recent floods .

    The Anambra state government took delivery of some non food items including 7,350 nylon mats, 1,000 treated mosquito nets, 600 cartons of bathing soap, 2,500 pieces of guinea brocade (5 yards each), 1,000 pieces of brand new children’s wears, 1,000 brand new women’s wears and 1,000 pieces of men’s wears.

    The state will also receive 1,400 bags of 10kg rice, 1,400 bags of 10kg beans, 1,400 bags of 10kg maize, 75 bags of salt (20kg), 75 kegs of vegetable oil (20ltrs), 100 cartons of seasoning and 75 cartons of tin tomatoes (50 sachets per carton).

    The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development Sadiya Umar Farouq announced this at in Abuja during the 2022 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction event.

    The Minister who was represented by the Director Humanitarian Affairs, Alhaji Ali Grema said that efforts were being stepped up to address the challenges of flooding in the country.

    “You are all aware of the widespread floods that have been ravaging many States, Local Governments and Communities in Nigeria. The scale of devastation of the present flood situation in the country can only be compared to the 2012 floods.
    More than 500 lives have been lost, more than 1.4M persons affected, about 90,000 homes either partially or completely destroyed and still counting. Also destroyed are thousands of hectares of farmland which has worsened fears of a disruption of food supply in Africa’s most populous country. These widespread cases are in 27 out of 36 States and the FCT.

    “As we reflect on the present flood situation in Nigeria, let us consider the focus of the 2022 Inclusive Disaster Risk Reduction IDDRR.
    The minister noted that although government gave early warnings disasters are local Communities must take climate predictions and flood outlook warnings seriously.
    We can not outrightly eliminate flood but we can keep people safe. That responsibility is collectively ours,” she added.

    Farouq stated that the Ministry and all relevant stakeholders are working on implementing the National Flood Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan that was recently approved by the Federal Executive Council.

    “The plan stipulates specific roles and actions for all States and Local Governments as well as households, communities and pressure groups. The Ministry considers the importance of preventing deaths and loss of lives in a disaster that is predicted and occurs every year”.

    Furthermore, the Director General of NEMA Mustapha Habib Ahmed also assured that the delivery of relief materials to other states has commenced to provide succor to persons affected by floods across the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory (FCT),

    Ahmed said that the distribution of assorted food commodities from the National Strategic Reserve was approved by President Muhammadu Buhari to be distributed across the states to vulnerable Nigerians.

    “NEMA has already delivered relief materials to many states and presented to the various State Governments for onward distribution to the flood victims. We want to assure other states yet to receive the relief items that delivery will soon be completed in their states by this weekend. Efforts are being made to address challenges encountered while moving the items due to the condition of the roads that were covered by flood.

    “The scale of the flood disaster across the country is colossal. While over 500 lives have been lost, several homes and farmlands have been destroyed and a large number of persons displaced in some of the disaster hotspots, NEMA said .

  • Flood kills 500, Displace 1.4M Nationwide, as FG Approves Emergency Plan

    Flood kills 500, Displace 1.4M Nationwide, as FG Approves Emergency Plan

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved emergency management plans to mitigate the impact of flooding nationwide, as 500 people died and 1.4 million were displaced from their homes.

    Nasir Sani-Gwarzo, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development permanent secretary, disclosed this at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja.

    “It is on record that over 1.4 million persons were displaced, with about 500 persons being reported dead, 790,254 persons moved out of their locations, while 1,546 persons were injured,” the Nigerian official stated. 

    The official further disclosed that “44,099 houses were partially damaged, 45,249 houses totally damaged, 76,168 hectares of farmlands were partially destroyed, while 70,566 hectares of farmlands were completely destroyed.”

    Mr Sani-Gwarzo announced this after the emergency meeting on the flood situation with relevant stakeholders in Abuja, saying the government had approved the National Emergency Flood Preparedness and Response Plans to mitigate and reduce the impact of the flood nationwide.

    He said that experts responsible for controlling flood disasters had informed the committee that the scale of the 2022 flooding was similar to that of 2012.

    He added, “The National Emergency Flood Preparedness and Response Plans for Nigeria has just been approved by the Federal Executive Council and it contains all the details of the roadmap that needs to be done. It includes the immediate, short-term and long-term plans, and therefore, we have a clear view of what to do and how to go about it, mitigate and reduce the impact of flood in the country.”

    He noted that the regime was “taking all the necessary actions to bring relief to the people affected by the flood” and that “all the concerned agencies have renewed their commitment to strengthen their efforts in reaching out to the victims and bring relief to them.”

  • We’re Going to Experience More Flood in Other States -NiMet

    We’re Going to Experience More Flood in Other States -NiMet

    The NiMet DG said in the coming days, there would be high intensity rains and coupled with the dams being let open, there will be more floods.

    Some states are experiencing huge flooding, reminiscent of the 2012 floods. The latest floods has led to loss of lives and properties worth billions of naira.

    “Remember, we issued the forecast in February and we followed up with the monthly updates that we’re going to have above normal rainfall in most part of the country. So in terms of the rainfall induced floods, we’ve seen the peak but remember we told you that this rainwater gets collected into the reservoirs and dams, and whenever they are filled, it gets spilled. So, on the13th of September, the Lagbo Dam was released. And also Kainji and Shiroro dams were also were released. So what we’re witnessing now is riverine flooding” Prof. Matazu explained.

    “And from the information we’re getting from NIHSA we’re going to see more floods. And now the rain is concentrating on the North Central and the southern states. So that will be a combination of short duration, high intensity rain, which riverine flooding. So we’re going to see more of these floods in the north central states as we are seeing in Kogi and also south eastern and southwestern states as we are beginning to see in a number of parts of South West.”

    He further noted that water-associated risks are going to intensify in the coming years as the full weight of climate change begin to bear on our earth.

    “In Africa, water-related hazards such as flood, drought etc has become a major cause of food insecurity, strains on livelihoods, health risks and conflicts in many parts of the continent.”

    The DG NIHSA said the flood that has happened was primarily caused by rainfall and not the released dams.

    He also noted that coupled with the fact that some people had built on flood plains, and with the rise in water levels in the River Niger and Benue, the floods became inevitable.

    Alan Jenkins, the Deputy Director of the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, commended NiMet for being first agency in the world to apply the HydroSOS.