Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Kogi State, Mr. Sanusi Yahaya, on Saturday disclosed that over 150 communities have been submerged by floods in nine Local Government Areas, LGAs, of the State.
He spoke while addressing newsmen after a stakeholders meeting at the state emergency operation centre in Lokoja.
He said the centre had been activated as the state was already experiencing flood emergency.
According to the Commissioner, who is also the State Coordinator, Emergency Operation Centre, EOC, out of the nine local government areas located along the banks of River Niger and Benue, seven were severely affected.
He identified the severely affected LGAs as: Ibaji, Kogi Koton Karfe, Lokoja, Ofu, Ajaokuta, Omala and Idah, saying over 90 per cent of Ibaji communities have been submerged.
Speaking further, the Commissioner said: “Particularly, majority of communities at Ibaji are under water, and many households have been affected and displaced.
“As we speak, the water level has risen very high to about 10.60m on Saturday in Lokoja from the report of the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency. NIHSA.
“In the last few days, many communities, settlements have been displaced as a result of flooding.”
Yahaya disclosed that the government had established over 20 camps for those affected and advised residents of flood-prone areas and affected communities to relocate to safer places or move to the nearest camps to avoid loss of lives and properties.
He assured that the state was collaborating with all relevant stakeholders to ensure timely and appropriate responses.
“The state needs help; while we are working within the resources available to us, we need temporary shelter provision, food, non-food items and water, which the affected victims would need.
“In terms of efforts to document the displaced persons; the profiling is ongoing and we will keep updating the number of the affected households and persons.
“Our officers are in the field profiling, and we have to put it together before we can give out figure, and this figure will keep changing day by day,” he said.
He however disclosed that as at Saturday, the number of households at Gadumo axis was 215, Ganaja 176, Galili axis 272, and Adankolo axis 246, under Lokoja and Ajaokuta LGAs.
Though no lives have been lost, the Commissioner pointed out that the victims were facing challenging situation and urged the Federal Government through the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, to come to their aid.
He also appealed to individuals, organisations and other relevant stakeholders to assist the state.
Tthe submerged communities include; Adankolo, Gadumo, Egan, Budon, Kinani, Esikaku, Oreza, Edimose, Enumayi, Ogbangede, Iganumo, Bagana, Obakume, and Idirisu.
Others are Edeha, Adabode, Edegaki, Akpaku, Okpaka, Adamogu, Kasemiya, Kpakpazi, Kelebe, Ozahi, Panda, Ikumo, Irenodu, Iganumo, Geregu, among several others.
