By Dada Ahmed in Lokoja
The recent flood in kogi state, which sent thousands of families from their homes, has submerged the entire Ibaji Local Governmemt of the state, according to Mr Oyaka Jemes, Chairman, Central Executive Committee,Ibaji Development Association.
James,who made the disclosure in Onyedega,the headquarters of the local government on Wednesday, expressed concern that the natural had in effect, destroyed farm produce in addition to rendering the people of the area homeless.
He called on the Federal,state government and kind-hearted individuals in the state and beyond to come to the aid of flood victims in the area, to cushion the devasitating effects of the flood on them.
James also called on the Federal government to give priority to the dredging of the River Niger and Benue, to put pay the perennial flood in the state and other parts of the country.
He also called for the construction of smaller dams that would take care of the excess water from River Niger, adding that such water could be used for agricultural activities among others.
The Reporters,an online media, gathered that no fewer than seven local government areas of the state are affected in this year’s flood,whose impact is still being in Lokoja, the state capital and other prone areas in the state.
The Reporters recalls that the Federal government has donated some relief materials for on ward distrbution to flood victims in the state.
The Minister of Minister of Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajia Sadiya Farouq, disclosed this at the Government House, Lokoja while flagging off the distrbution of the materials in 10 of the 21 local government areas of the state.
Farouq expressed the sympathy of the Federal Government to the Government and people of Kogi over the flood.
She said: ”President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR is concerned about the flood and has directed the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development to activate the National Emergency Management Agency to respond in providing necessary supports to the persons affected by the floods.”
She said that the relief items were approved to complement the efforts of the State Government in providing succour to the affected persons.
According to her, the LGAs are: Ibaji, Lokoja, Kogi, Bassa, Ajaokuta, Igalamela/Odolu, Idah, Ofu and Omala Local Government Areas.
”The items which will be delivered before the end of this week are: 2,931 (12.5kg) bags of rice, 2,931 (12.5kg) bags of garri, 2,931 (25kg) bags of beans, 488 cartons of seasoning, and 244 cartons of tomato paste.
”Others are: 293 (20 Litres) kegs of vegetable oil, 146 (20kg) bags of salt, 117 bags of sugar, 5,260 pieces each of mattresses, blankets, mosquito nets and nylon mats.
Our correspondent, who is monitoring the flood in Lokoja and its environs reports that some of the victims whose houses show sign of reoccupation have started returning to such structures, due to substantial receding of water.
