Kogi cries for help as flood ravages state

Benue evacuates residents of vulnerable areas

The Kogi State government has again called on the Federal Government and international donor agencies to come to its aid, as flood sacked over 200 communities.

Addressing newsmen at Kotonkarfe, Kogi Local Council, yesterday, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo raised the alarm that a major “humanitarian crisis is brewing in the state as close to two million people are currently homeless.”

He said the “National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) cannot afford to wait any longer” as Kogi was already “overwhelmed.” Fanwo continued: “We are in a dire emergency situation at the moment, and this is sad. The flood disaster here is devastating and over 200 communities have already been submerged, and close to two million people displaced.

“As we speak, nine of the 21 Local Government Areas in the state are affected, which is almost 50 per cent of the number of Local Government Areas. We have opened about 68 IDP camps, but they can’t hold that massive population. Schools, hospitals and other infrastructure have been destroyed completely.

“Seeing the aged and little children in this kind of distress is a horrible sight. We did not lose any lives because we activated the early warning and enlightenment plan. We are expending huge resources daily, but it is inadequate. We call on the Federal Government, International Donor Agencies, NGOs and philanthropists to come to our aid.”

The commissioner said the state government had earlier set up a Flood Disaster Response Team under the leadership of the deputy governor, assuring the victims of the government’s support in the face of the natural disaster. Kogi, Lokoja, Adavi, Ofu, Ajaokuta, Idah, Ibaji are some of the affected council areas.

MEANWHILE, the Benue State government has begun evacuating residents of flood-prone areas, as the volume of water in the River Benue steadily rises. In the early hours of yesterday, residents of Kyabiz, Coca-Cola settlement, Brewery and parts of Fiidi along the Makurdi-Gboko road were seen moving furniture and household items out of their homes.

Information Officer of the Benue State Emergency Management Agency, Ager Tema, told The Guardian that the state government had established special camps for those displaced by the floods at the Gaadi Comprehensive College and the NKST Primary School Wadata, all in Makurdi.

Similarly, the Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Aondowase Kunde, said Governor Hyacinth Alia had ordered for food and relief materials to be shared with the flood victims, beginning yesterday.