Olu Samuel, Lokoja

The Kogi state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello called on the President,Major General Mohammadu Buhari ( rtd) to declare a State of National Disaster due to Flooding in the state and other similarly affected states.

“The declaration will help to unlock the nation’s latent capabilities to respond more aggressively with more men, money and materials to this harrowing situation” .he said.

According to him “the flooding has affected the nine (9) local government areas which lie along the Rivers Niger and Benue, namely, Lokoja, Kogi-Koto, Ajaokuta, Ofu, Igalamela-Odolu, Bassa, Idah, Ibaji and Omala. Ibaji is almost 100% under water while the rest range from 30% up. Other inland LGAs also have some degree of flooding from smaller rivers and tributaries.

“As predicted by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) the 2022 floods are considerably heavier than usual so there is a need for more coordinated action”.

“We therefore have a serious and humanitarian tragedy on our hands, but I wish to assure every person, family and community which has been affected that they are not alone and that help is coming. Even before the floods came we had activated our early response systems to make sure that succour reaches those affected in a timely manner.”

This he said required serious efforts aimed at providing lasting and permanent solutions to the yearly crisis arising from the flood

“Even though we are still mapping the red zones as they develop, the Kogi State Emergency Management Agency (KOGISEMA) and other first responders are already hard at work across the state. At-risk communities were informed and encouraged to evacuate long before the flooding began and Internally Displaced Persons Camps were set up and put at their disposal.

However,the governor regretted that all the efforts being made to reduce the suffering of the people were not enough and will require mobilizing help from traditional partners such as the National Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Services, Disaster Management and Social Development as well as socially responsible corporate entities.

“The Kogi State Government will welcome public-spirited individuals, groups and bodies who may wish to show love to their fellow humans in distress through donations of funds and essentials.”Gov. Bello added.