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Nigerian Govt Told To Declare Emergency Over Devastating Floods In States

Published

4 months ago

Sep 3, 2024.

The National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC) has urgently called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in flood-ravaged states, following the widespread destruction of lives and property.

During a briefing in Minna, Niger State, HYPPADEC Managing Director Abubakar Yelwa revealed that eight lives have already been lost across Niger and Kebbi states, with several communities submerged and vast hectares of farmland destroyed in other states.

Yelwa emphasized that member states, including Niger, Kwara, Kogi, Gombe, Taraba, Nasarawa, Kaduna, Benue, Kebbi, and Plateau, are particularly vulnerable to flooding due to their locations and the electricity generation activities in these areas.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that he reported that seven lives were lost in Niger State and one in Kebbi State due to severe flooding in recent weeks. Additionally, 634 communities in Benue State and 6,959 households in Kebbi State have been affected, with tens of thousands of farmlands destroyed.

“The situation is dire,” Yelwa stated, noting that Gombe, Taraba, Nasarawa, Kogi, and Kaduna states are also severely impacted, though the full extent of the damage has yet to be disclosed.

“Three major bridges on Federal Highways have also been affected and they include Mayo-Kam and Jalingo Wukari bridges in Taraba State as well as Manyara Bridge at Sabon-Pegi Kwatachi on New Bussa Federal Highway.

“Unspecified number of other critical infrastructure such as culverts and flood drains, schools and health centers has equally been affected across the Commission’s areas of operations.”

Yelwa disclosed that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has already declared that this year alone, flood has so far claimed no fewer than 200 lives, displaced over 208, 000 people in 28 states across the country while many homes and farm lands have also been washed away.

“It is important here to note that, 80 percent of the worst hit states are N-HYPPADEC member states and this can be attributed to poor infrastructure, failure to follow environmental guidelines and ineffective dams management because there were few cases recorded from torrential rainfall in some states.

Declare Emergency Floods States

“As a Commission, we have played a significant role in containing the menace of incessant flooding by executing critical flood and erosion control projects and this include the 625 meters hydraulic drainage system at Koton Karfe, Kogi State, 1.2 kilometre hydraulic drainage system and another 2.5 kilometre desilting on dyke flood plain in Benue State, flood control dykes and retaining walls in Yauri, Kebbi State and Patigi erosion control project in Kwara State.

“This is in addition to about 500 flood victims’ resettlement housing schemes under construction in Niger, Kogi, Kwara and Kebbi states.”