By Correspondent in Abuja/Lokoja.
As flood which occurred in 31 states in Nigeria shows sign of receding and victims are warming to pick pieces of their lives again and move on with life, the federal government said over 500 persons died 45,249 houses damaged and 70,566 hectares of farmland destroyed, due to the two-week-old natural disaster.
Sani Gwarzo,the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, disclosed this to Journalists in Abuja on the sideline of the meeting he held with relevant agencies to tackle the widespread destruction caused by floods across the country held on Tuesday.
According to him, the government is working hard to address the situation.
“In the area of the flood disaster outlook, records from the field have indicated that the 2022 flood is comparable only to the 2012 flood in terms of human displacement, livelihood disruption, infrastructure damage and environmental dislocation.
“The National Emergency Management Agency has confirmed that as of October 9, 2022, the water level at Lokoja and Makurdi along Rivers Niger and Benue is 11 per cent above the level recorded in 2012.
“So far, the flood has wreaked havoc in 31 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory. Over 500 persons are reported dead; 1,411,051 persons affected; 790,254 displaced persons with 1,546 persons injured.
“Furthermore, 44,099 houses are partially damaged; 45,249 houses damaged; 76,168 hectares of farmland partially damaged and 70,566 hectares of farmland are destroyed by the great deluge,” he said.
Gwarzo, however, stated that relief materials were being made available to persons in need, adding that NEMA had provided relief support to over 315,000 displaced persons across the flood disaster hotspots where state capacities had been overwhelmed.
The provision of food and non-food items for immediate relief and building materials for reconstruction and rehabilitation is ongoing, according to the permanent secretary.
Gwarzo added that there had been the deployment of vital resources to save lives, adding that the positive outcomes from the field were quite resounding.
“Coincidentally, as part of the Federal Government’s food intervention to cushion the effect of inflation and pre-harvest food shortage, Mr President has approved the release of 12,000 metric tonnes of grains from the national strategic grains reserve silos of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development,” Gwarzo further disclosed.
Meanwhile, our Correspondent in Lokoja reports that the early Thursday morning rain that fell in Lokoja came with mixed feelings among the residents.
While some perceived the rain as a relief to the heat which is warming up to take centre stage in the atmospheric condition of Lokoja at this time of the year, others, especially flood victims have expressed fear that it might add to the volume of water in River Niger and Benue and then compound their plight, even as the flood commences receding on Monday.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.