In order to prevent flood disasters, as anticipated by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo has directed state stakeholders to collaborate and create a proactive plan.
At a stakeholders’ meeting on emergency management and flood preparedness on Tuesday, the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) collaborated to organize the event. Ododo, who made the call, suggested that stakeholders step up their efforts to raise awareness of and mitigate the threat of impending flood disasters.
Comrade Joel Oyibo Salifu, the governor’s deputy, spoke on behalf of the governor, who stated that flooding poses serious risks to nine local government areas in Kogi State.
“We will continue to invest in early warning to sensitize and enlighten the people especially citizens living and dwelling along riverine areas,” he said.
Ododo asked stakeholders to assist his administration in mitigating the consequences of flooding in Kogi State, acknowledging that the government cannot adequately solve the difficulties posed by the state’s flooding on its own.
In his welcome speech, SEMA Executive Secretary Alhaji Mouktar Atimah had earlier stated that the purpose of the stakeholders’ conference was to improve collaboration and coordination amongst stakeholders in advance of the projected flooding in 2024 and to determine the necessary support to improve flood response.
He claims that between April and May of 2024, wind and rainstorms impacted more than 1,000 residences in three local government areas.
He gave his word that the organization would keep trying its hardest to handle calamities in the state.
“The agency would on its part continue to intensify efforts in mitigating the predicted flooding and sensitizing the general public. The state government has done a lot in saving lives and property of its citizens and protecting the vulnerable,” he said.
However, Atimah pleaded with all parties involved to treat NiMET’s flood forecasts seriously in order to lower the number of fatalities and property losses.
Chief Salifu Adaji, the Onu of Itobe, urged the Federal Government to take the initiative in resolving the ongoing flooding that impacts residents in riverine zones in his message of goodwill.
The traditional ruler warned the Federal Government to start huge dredging with the Nigerian Navy acting as a supervising body to guarantee that the contract is carried out in accordance with specifications, pointing out that the people already knew about their predicament.
