By Dada Ahmed in Lokoja.
The current flood forcing many residents in Lokoja and its environs in kogi State,most especially those living close to River Niger to leave their houses for safer places, has also caused a hike in transport fare and further increase in food prices, The Reporters reports.
Our Correspondent, monitoring development relating to the flood in the state capital reports.on frida85 that commuters have been compelled to use canoe to accomplish their journey in some instances as flood takes over some roads, there by impeding vehicular movement.
Investigation by our Correspondent showed that commuters pay between N400 and N500 per trip from the new market to Ganaja village, instead of the former N200.00.
Hajia Ayishat Mohammed, a resident of Ganaja village,who sells yam at the new market, told our correspondent during an interview that for her to cross the water locked old market to the other side of kabawa, through canoe, cost her and her goods N200.
“I would have to pay another N100 transport fare from here to the new market.
“These canoe drivers don’t pity us at all as they charge exorbitant transport fare, citing flood to justify their action,” she said.
Market survey by the online publication revealed that the traders have started transferring the cost of the hike in transportation to buyers.
The survey also revealed that prices of food stuffs have witnessed another round of increase in prices of 10 to 20 per cent rise as traders transfer extra cost of their transport fare to consumers.
Reliable sources from other Local Governnent Areas of the state, where flood has touched, told The Reporters of similar circumstances.
Our Correspondent also reports that River Niger remained full to the brim on Friday, a development that forced it to feed other water channels that branch to many houses with unpalatable consequences.
Some victims of the flood in their separate interview called on the federal and state government and spirited individuals as well as organisations to extend gesture to them in form of provision of relief materials.
This they said this would enable them pick pieces of start life all over again after the flood must have come and gone.
Samson Abah,a resident of New layout of Gadumo,whose two houses have been submerged by the flood, called on the state government to allocate virgin land to flood victims,far from the river, for them to build their houses among other requests.
The Reporters reports that the office the Hydro Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) in the state has waded in providing relief materials worth millions of naira to victims of flood in the area.
At Onyedega, ogwojibo and Atiko communities in Ibaji Local Governnent Area, the Chairman of the council, Hon. Williams Iko’ojo, commended the pragmatic and timely effort of HYPPADEC for the provision of relief materials.
