As the heavy downpour continue and rivers overflow their banks, the
National Emergency Management Authority (NEMA) yesterday issued a flood
alert for the immediate evacuation of all communities along the plains
of River Niger.
Six states – Niger, Kogi, Kwara, Kebbi, Anambra and Delta – are at risk of imminent flooding.
The alert was issued just as Makurdi, the Benue State capital
witnessed heavy flooding that destroyed over a thousand houses and
displaced scores of people. Five people were declared missing in the
floods.
NEMA’s alert said Jebba and Kainji dams had attained their highest
water levels in 29 years and said the states at risk of imminent flood
have already been notified to take necessary precautionary measures by
relocating people from the flood prone areas and activate the National
Contingency Plan to avert loss of lives and property.
It also said a rapid assessment team had been despatched to Kainji and Jebba to inspect the situation.
The Makurdi floods yesterday destroyed property worth millions of
naira, two weeks after the floodgates of the Lagda Dam in Cameroun were
opened, killing several people and destroying several houses and
farmlands in Adamawa State.
The state Ministry of Water Resources and Environment, and the State
Emergency Management Agency had ordered residents of flood-prone
communities to vacate the areas, but many of the inhabitants did not
heed the warnings.
LEADERSHIP yesterday witnessed the victims crying out over the wanton
destruction caused by the flood: many houses and other property were
submerged in the waters.
Some of the affected houses include that of the former governor of
Benue State, Rev. Fr. Moses Adasu, and Kyabiz Hotel located along the
Makurdi-Gboko road.
