N22.3b properties, 11,000 animals, 52,000 houses lost to flood — Bauchi govt

The Bauchi State Government has reported that properties worth N22.3 billion, 11,000 animals, and 52,000 houses were lost to floods in 16 local government areas (LGAs) of the state.

The Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hajara Wanka, while briefing journalists on Monday evening, said that 24 lives were lost and 163 others were injured.

She said: “The Governor constituted a committee under the leadership of the Commissioner for Budget and Planning with relevant Ministries as members, under the close supervision of the SSG. We were directed to go around and come up with a comprehensive report on damages and how the state can intervene, which is still ongoing but 90 percent of the work has been done.

“During these floods, sadly, we recorded 24 lives lost across the 16 local government areas of the State, and 163 people were severely injured. 122,340 households were displaced, and 12 major roads were cut off, mostly in the northern part of the state. So far, 60 culverts have been washed away. 52,045 houses across the LGAs were destroyed. 178 electric poles collapsed. More than 11,143 animals were killed,” she said.

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She further explained that the state was working with the Ministries for Health and Education to ascertain the level of damages caused in schools and facilities that were affected.

“Even though the catastrophe is unquantifiable as the rains still go on, as of present, throughout the state and as a result of flooding this year so far, we have lost properties worth N22,319,480,000.

“We’ve been putting heads together with the Federal Government not just to ascertain the damage,” she said.