LEADERSHIP
Again, despite previous experience and warnings from the relevant authorities, several states and local governments across the country have been caught unprepared for the yearly devastating rains and floods.
Investigation by the LEADERSHIP showed that despite repeated warnings by NiMET, most of the states of the federation this year suffered severe setbacks as the rains and the consequential floods swept away residents, houses and farmlands and public infrastructure such as bridges, which collapsed, especially in Bauchi, Gombe, Katsina and Plateau states.
The collapse of bridges and caving in of some highways led to parts of these states being cut off from the rest of the country.
Although most of the states were not forthcoming with the casualty level, findings showed that four states recorded 15 deaths, with Katsina having the highest (10) deaths, Kebbi (4), Plateau (3) and Lagos (1).
Officials of other states contacted by LEADERSHIP said they have the data in place.
Over 33,000 persons in 10 states were affected by floods this year, says NEMA.
Earlier in the year, the federal government had stated that about 178 local government areas (LGAs) in 32 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) were at risk of flooding from the early rains from April as predicted by the Nigeria Hydrological Services.
The then minister of Water Resources, Engr. Suleiman Adamu, said this was according to the presentation of the 2023 Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA).
According to him, the states with high flood risk were Adamawa, Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross-River, Delta, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Edo, Gombe, Imo.
Others were Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe, Zamfara, and the Federal Capital Territory.
According to him, “a total of 66 LGAs fall within the high flood risk areas in the month of April, May and June; 148 LGAs in the month of July, August and September, and 100 LGAs for the period of October and November.”
Also, moderate effects of the flood risk would be experienced in the months of April, May and June in 41 local government areas; 199 LGAs in July, August and September, and 72 LGAs in the months of October and November respectively.
Meanwhile, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said about 33,983 persons have been affected by the flooding in different parts of the country as of August, 2023,.
NEMA’s director of planning, research and forecasting, Fatima Kasim, said the agency had been gathering data on persons impacted by the flooding incidents in the last seven months.
Kasim said that flooding, which has become an annual occurrence in the country, is mostly caused by factors such as improper building, poor infrastructure design and construction, bad drainage systems, lack of solid waste management, and harmful land-use practices, among others.
Kasim said the 2023 seasonal climate prediction released by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) had predicted normal to above-normal rainfall patterns for the country.
She added that “As of August 9, the following data has been collated in respect of the 2023 flooding,” she said.
“The number of states affected – 10 states; the number of persons affected – 33,983; the number of persons displaced – 7,353; the number of persons injured – 75; the number of deaths – five; number of houses totally damaged – 1,679, and farmlands totally damaged – 866 hectares.”
Bauchi
In Bauchi, Katsina and Plateau states, 1, 420 houses were destroyed by the floods, with Katsina topping with 876 houses, followed by Bauchi (400) and Plateau (150).
Residents and officials disclosed to LEADERSHIP that 400 houses and 300 farmlands were destroyed in Cheledi, a community in the Kirfi local government area of Bauchi State following heavy downpour in the area.
Victims of the disaster temporarily relocated to government buildings, schools, and houses of relatives not affected by the flood.
The director of Planning, Research and Statistics of the agency, Mr Adamu Nayola, who announced the incident, said: “More than 700 houses and farmlands were destroyed in Cheledi Community, with rice, maize, sorghum, millet, sesame seeds and cowpea destroyed.
He added that the affected houses and farmlands were destroyed when the rivers in the area overflowed their banks after a downpour.
Nayola described the incident as the worst flooding incident to happen in the state this year so far.
He said the Commissioners for Humanitarian Affairs, Housing and Environment had visited the area to assess the degree of damage.
“They assessed the level of damage caused by the flood in all the affected areas and provided necessary assistance to the victims,” Nayola said.
A victim of this year’s flood disaster at Babbaji village in Zaki Local Government Area of Bauchi state, Jauri Datti, has appealed to the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to come to their aid to alleviate the sufferings caused by the flood.
“There is the need for government officials to come and assess the extent of damage caused by the flood in the area to know the type or quantum of assistance the government would be able to provide us”, Datti said.
According to him, this year’s (2023) flood came at a time when people were bedevilled by hardships brought about by the fuel subsidy removal which, he said, had since June to date sent some poverty-stricken Nigerians to their graves.
Another flood victim of Cheledi village in Kirfi Local Government of the state, Shamwilu Auwal, recalled that the recent floods in some parts of the LGA were so devastating that victims received sympathy visits from Kirfi LGA authorities and the lawmaker representing the area in the State House of Assembly.
He explained that unlike last year’s flood in Cheledi which occurred at night time when people were asleep during which some people were killed and hundreds of animals killed and carried away by flood, this year flood came at day time and people tried to curb the menace, hence incurring less damage compared to last year.
He said however that this year’s flood was more disastrous as it also destroyed about 400 houses and washed away no fewer than 300 farmlands.
When LEADERSHIP contacted Adamu Nayola, the director of planning, research and statistics of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), over the incident, he said he could not speak to the press until he got clearance from the newly created Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management.
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