By Dada Ahmed in Lokoja.
,,,,, Senator Natasha stresses proactive measures against flood.
Photo credit;The Cable.
Residents of Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State in north-central Nigeria, are deeply concerned following the devastating flood that struck Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State in the northeast, last Wednesday.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reports that the severe flooding has impacted over one million people in Borno State and resulted in at least 30 deaths, with many others displaced.
The disaster occurred after the Alau Dam collapsed, causing it to overflow and send floodwaters surging into Maiduguri from about 10 kilometers away.
Kogi State, which is highly susceptible to flooding, experienced severe floods in 2012, affecting more than half of its 21 local government areas and causing significant loss of lives, farmland, and property worth billions of naira.
Residents in Gadumo and Ganaja village,two neighborhoods in Lokoja near the River Niger, have expressed anxiety about potential flooding in Kogi this year.
Finding by our correspondent on Thursday indicates that some have relocated to safer areas within Lokoja while others are warming to follow suit to avoid being caught off guard.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and other organizations have advised residents in flood-prone areas across 27 states of the federation to be cautious and consider moving to safer, upland areas.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central in the National Assembly, has extended her condolences to the people of Borno state.
She praised the federal and state governments, as well as humanitarian organizations, for their relief efforts and called for proactive measures to prevent future disasters.
The Senator emphasized the need for all levels of government to enhance flood mitigation strategies and support affected communities in their recovery.
