The management of Kogi State Emergency Management Agency (KOSEMA), led by the Executive Secretary Alh. Mouktar Atimah, along with the Head of Abuja Operations at NEMA, Alhaji Zakari Abubakar, has warned residents against blocking drainages and building on waterways.
The management issued the warning after an assessment tour of Kabba-Bunu LGA and Sarki-Numa in Lokoja LGA concerning the recent flash floods in the communities.
According to the Executive Secretary of KOSEMA, “We have come to sympathise with the community and see things for the State Administration led by the workaholic Chief Servant, His Excellency Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo, and the Federal Government through the National Emergency Management Agency to provide relief materials and mitigate the impact of the flood disaster.”
He further urged community members to support the government’s efforts by stopping the indiscriminate dumping of refuse into waterways and preventing construction on water channels, as these are major factors contributing to flooding.
In his own remark, Head of Abuja Operations at NEMA, Alhaji Zakari Abubakar, representing the Director General of NEMA, Hajia Zubaida Umar, expressed sympathy with the victims and stressed that the office received a warning notice about the flood incident. The team was on assessment and promised to do a thorough job and report back to the Director General for prompt government intervention.
During the assessment, the team paid a courtesy visit to the Obaro of Kabba, HRM Solomon Dele Awoniyi, the chairman of the Okunland Traditional Council. The visit highlights the importance of collaboration between the government and traditional institutions in disaster management.
While welcoming the team, the Obaro of Kabba, HRM Solomon Dele Awoniyi, appreciated the visit for the prompt response to the situation and appealed for the government’s quick interventions.
In his remarks, the Kabba-Bunu LGA Chairman, Barr. (Hon.) Michael Zaccheous, commended the visit, praised the State and Federal Governments for their swift response, and promised to enhance collaborative partnership.
In the same vein, the joint assessment team was in Lokoja LGA over the flood incident in Sarki-Numa community. The team, along with the Council Chairman, Comrade Abdullahi Àdamu, took a tour to assess the affected people and locations for a comprehensive impact assessment of the flood.
The Executive Chairman appreciated the team and requested a quick response from the Federal government through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to help alleviate the plight of the affected persons.
Earlier, the visiting team paid a courtesy call to the Deputy Governor of the State, His Excellency Elder Joel Salifu, where he was briefed on the distressing flood incident notices received from Kabba-Bunu LGA and Sarki-Numa in Lokoja LGA.
