Flood: EU Team Visits as Kogi Laments Last Year’s Colossal Loss

The effect of the 2012 flood that ravaged Kogi State has been described as colossal as thirteen markets, 831 small scale businesses and many crops stored for off season sales were washed away and destroyed.
Yomi Awoniyi,Kogi State Deputy Governor and Chairman flood Management Committee made the disclosure when he received a delegation of European Union Technical Assistance Mission who are in the State for a two day working visit.
The Deputy Governor who was represented by Air Vice Marshal Gabriel Abdul,Special Adviser on Emergency Management to the Kogi State Governor added that the effect of the last year’s flood which will for long linger in the minds of people of the state destroyed 130 health facilities and affected the $83million greater Lokoja Water project.
AVM Abdul also disclosed that the flood resulted in 20 deaths during a rescue operation when a boat capsized and also as a result of flood epidemic in Ibaji Local Government respectively.
While he appealed for assistance from the European Union to alleviate the suffering being faced by the State,Awoniyi equally lamented the damage done to 400,000 hectares of farmland, 24,082 houses that were totally and partially damaged in 477 communities in the state.
Awoniyi called for adequate budgetary allocations for flood disaster management by the nation to yearly cater for disaster management.
Awoniyi noted that disaster management is the business of all,called for effective synergy and collaboration by various stakeholders for efficient disaster management.
Already 15 areas Awoniyi explained has been designated as temporary camps across flood prone Local Government Areas of the State in the event of another flood this year so as not to disrupt educational activities as experienced last year.
With an already prepared disaster management plan by the State,preparation,preparedness,relief and recovery strategies Awoniyi added has been put in place for immediate and short term intervention measures to combat the 2013 predicted flood if it occurs.
In his remarks,The head of the EU delegation Mr Kimmo Tuominen said the EU is interested in the emergency planning and procedures including coordination and communication between the different regional stakeholders.
He added that the EU will further assist the state in the areas of flood information management, especially as it relates to forecast and alerts procedures as well as early warning systems.
He commiserated with the state for recording the worst impact of the flood last year,assured of technical and other assistance that would help mitigate impact of future flood.
Highlights of the visit was visit to some damaged farms in Kogi Local Government Area and interactive sessions with stakeholders today.
The team is billed to also inspect sites affected by flood in Idah,Ibaji LGA’s, Confluence Beach Hotel and Greater Lokoja Waterworks.