Last year, flood swept through Kogi State affecting nine of its Local Government Areas. The State Government under Capt Idris Wada has carefully taking stock of the extent of destruction and within the limits of available resources provided succour. Mike Abu,Chief Press Secretary to the Kogi State Deputy Governor writes on the efforts by Government and the need for people to heed the early warning signal.
Precisely in February last year, NIMET issued an early warning that there would be flooding in some states of the federation including Kogi State. The warning was meant to keep people on their toes, not necessarily to avert the impending disaster but the intention was to mitigate the effect of the flooding. Though the people went to sleep amidst the prediction, Kogi State government did not take the warning lightly. It promptly constituted a committee headed by the State Deputy Governor, Yomi Awoniyi. The State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA was empowered to sensitize the people on how best to avert the disaster that would come with the fury of water.
The Executive Secretary of SEMA, Mrs Alice Ogedengbe was like a lone voice in the wilderness. Mrs Ogedengbe, travelled the length and breadth of the State with the warning from NIMET. When eventually the flood came, sometime in August last year, it came in a manner
that it could not be immediately contained. Like in the days of Noah, there were people that slept on trees for days before rescue came. Apart from houses that were swept away, many farmlands were also washed away.
Never in the history of the State has there been such great number of displaced people. Many school buildings became refugee camps. There flood, no doubt, shifted attention on Kogi State.
The governor, Captain Idris Wada was the first to tour areas worst hit to empathise with victims and provide some immediate relief.
From outside the state, the Senate President, David Mark was the first top government functionary to visit the State on an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.
Many roads in the State became flooded and thus, impassable. This prompted the visit of the Honourable Minister of Works, Mike Onolememem to the State. An alternative road had to be provided to ease movement on the ever-busy Lokoja-Abuja road which was completely taken over by water.President Goodluck Jonathan was also in the State on an on-the-spot assessment of
the situation and what he saw, confirmed the seriousness of the situation. At that point, relief materials started to come in from both the government and private individuals. Even corporate bodies were also not left out.The flood may have come and gone but the sad memories are still visible in the affected areas. For instance, the people of Ibaji whose farmlands were washed away are yet to recover from that bitter experience. What compounds their problem is the
fact that their seedlings were not spared by the flood.
Months after the flood and their return, they are still grappling with the problem.
Nine local government areas were affected by last year’s flood in the state and the flood was caused by the release of water from Kanji and Lagbo Dams.
The State Government, following last year’s flood, opened up a number of relief camps. It was estimated that about one million people were affected by the flood and of this figure, 600,000 were sheltered in the various relief camps.
As at February, the State Government closed down the camps. The State Government through the Deputy Governor had to dole out N50, 000 to each family head still in the camps as at the time of winding up the camps.
The money given out was to enable the families, secure alternative accommodation. Earlier, the government had given out assistance to the tune of N135 million to all those affected in the nine local government areas. The level of assistance were categorised into A, B and C with N20m, N15m and N10m as the respective assistance.
Ibaji, Lokoja, and Bassa were in category A while Kogi, Ajaokuta and Idah fell into category B. Igalamela/Odolu, Ofu and Omala were in category C. the aim is to provide assistance to the affected areas minimally.
Aside the amount, the State Government is also providing sectoral support in areas like; Infrastructure, rehabilitation of Schools, Roads and other such measures that would mitigate the effect of the flood on the people.
Ever since, the State Government has spent monies in the areas of intervention which include; Transport, Education, Health, Agriculture and Roads. For instance, six of the Primary Schools that were used as relief camps are been renovated at the cost of N81, 376,464.55.
A post flood Housing Estate in the first phase of 250 housing units of 1-bedroom and 2- bedroom at the cost of N504million has commenced. On completion, priority will be given to people living in the flood plains of lokoja.
Also, some roads that were made impassable by the flood had to be fixed. Contracts for fixing these roads have been awarded at the cost of N423million.
The government, as part of a proactive measure, is opening alternative east and west route to avoid the sufferings encountered by commuters during the last flood.
The government has also taken steps to mitigate the effect of last year’s flood on farmers and to ensure food security. The government stepped up effort in the area of dry season farming to make up for the huge farmland lost to flood last year.
The government provided over 6,500 hectares for cluster rice farmland under the Fadama programme an initiative that has cost the state government N200million. The programme is more like a recovery window
More than anything else, the state government is presently pre-occupied with how to reduce the impact of flood as predicted this year by NIMET through massive post flood and Pre-disaster early warning signs campaign as well as commenced comprehensive training of SEMA staff.
Also, the government has charged the people of the state, especially those in flood pruned areas to clean and clear up drainages around them.
Last year’s flood, if anything, has once again confirmed that global warming is here with us. It is not an issue only for the developed nations of the world. Prior to this time, many people erroneously believe that flood disasters of significant magnitude are not for our clime. The events of last year must have proved these assumptions wrong.
Now, there are early warnings. The question is, what is government doing to mitigate the effect of the predicted disaster? It is unfortunate that soon after the water dried up, many of the victims returned to their abodes. It is true that there is no place like home but can a place that does not guarantee your safety be a home?
Some of the victims of last year’s flood said that they returned to their abode because they have no money to build or even rent another apartment and they can’t remain in the refugee camp forever. As far as some of them are concerned, they will keep running each time the flood comes because they can’t for now, think of any alternative.
The government is not unaware of this handicap. Only recently, the government announced the acquisition of some plots of lands in different locations, especially in Lokoja, the State Capital with the intention of putting up structures to house some of the internally displaced persons.
The government has also gone ahead to mark some areas along the bank of the river that it considers dangerous for human habitation. Unfortunately, some new structures are being constructed very close to river banks. People seem to have very short memories. They have probably forgotten or are pretending to forget the pains people went through as a result of the flood last year.
The damage of last year’s flood was estimated to run into billions of naira. The state government in all received N753, 092,704.00, a breakdown that shows that private individuals and organisations gave N253, 192,704.10 while N500, 000,000.00 was donated by the Federal Government in response to the plight of the affected.
The premium placed on integrity and accountability by the Capt Idris Wada led administration assisted greatly in the proper management of the funds.
With the recent predictions by NIMET, it is certain that the flood will once again, come visiting but like it is been said; the choice of the magnitude rests squarely on the shoulders of the people. Would the people heed the warning this time around to move to higher ground or they would merely resign to fate as they did last year?
The government has however vowed that it would not be caught unawares this time around. Beyond re-echoing the warning from NIMET the state government has taken concrete steps to mitigate the effect of the forthcoming flood as It is not just enough to warn, it has remained proactive.
