Gov AbdulRahman calls for dredging of River Niger, As NEMA gives succour to flood victims

Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has called on the Federal Government to find lasting solutions to the perennial flooding affecting communities around Rivers, Niger, and Benue.

AbdulRahman made this call while receiving relief materials from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to be given to the victims of flood in the state.

Governor AbdulRahma, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government Prof Mamman Saba Jubril said “Compensation by giving money, foods and other items in most of the affected communities is like scratching the problem from the surface. We want the federal government to come up with permanent solutions to the problems. We know it could be very costly but they deserve it. This is beyond the state government.

“Some of the solutions to this problem include dredging of rivers to contain more volume of water and avert overflowing; construction of dyke around the rivers; planting of trees along river banks; discouraging farming around riverbanks and dredging of Baro Port in Niger State,” he suggested.

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AbdulRazaq recalled that his government had earlier distributed relief materials to victims of flooding in Patigi, Edu, and Moro local government areas and also to the victims of fire disasters in the state.

Earlier, the Director General of NEMA Mustapha Ahmed announced that the Federal Government Special intervention has approved relief materials for distribution to persons affected by the 2022 flood and other natural and human-induced disaster.

“I am glad to say that with assessments conducted and reports to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari approved the release of 12,000 metric tons of assorted grains from the National Strategic Reserve Stock for distribution to states of the federation and the FCT,”

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Represented by the Deputy Director ICT and Technical Director to NEMA DG Sani Lokoja, the DG said NEMA’s operations office in Minna has continuously worked with the Kwara State Emergency Management (KWASEMA) to conduct damage and loss assessments to guide relief intervention to persons in need of support in Kwara State.

“Part of the grains distributed to Kwara state which are expected to give succour to most
vulnerable groups of persons include: 105 metric tons of maize (2,100 bags of 50kg); 88.7 metric tons of sorghum (1,800 bags of 50kg; 98.7 metric tons of Garri (3,600 bags of 25kg).

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“Furthermore, NEMA has delivered additional relief material in form of food and non-food items to further support persons affected by the flood disaster in Kwara State. The items comprise of the following: A. Food Items: 1,000 bags of 10kg rice; 1,000 bags of 10kg beans; 1,000 bags of 10kg maize; 75 bags of salt (20kg); 75 kegs of vegetable oil (20ltrs); 150 cartons of seasoning cubes (maggi/knorr); 75 cartons of tin tomato (50 sachet).

B. Non-Food Items: 8,000 pieces of nylon mats; 1,000 pieces of mosquito nets (treated); 600 cartons of bath soap; 2,500 pieces of guinea brocade (5 yards); 1,000 pieces of children’s wear (new); 1,000 pieces of women’s wear (new) and 1,000 pieces of men’s wear (new),” he disclosed.