Mr Sunday Baiye, the Coordinator for Kogi 2017 Flood Sensitisation, on Monday said that the sensitisation campaigns to communities in nine flood prone Local Governments Areas in the state have been successfully completed.
Baiye, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after rounding up the campaign at Ogba community in Oguma, Bassa local government, said the reverine communities in nine flood prone areas had been covered by his team.
‘‘We are pleased with the level of acceptance and cooperation we got from the people, the traditional rulers, religious, community, group, women and youths leaders in all the communities we have visited.
‘‘The week long sensitisation started last week and covered nine local government areas which includes: Lokoja, Koton-Karfe/Kogi, Omala, Ibaji, Ofu, Igalamela/Odolu, Ajaokuta, Idah and Bassa Local Government Areas,’’ he said.
Baiye, also a Creative Consultant, ASEDA Media Consult, hailed Gov. Bello and the state commissioner for giving him the opportunity to serve the state in that capacity and for organising the campaign to mitigate the effects of flooding among the citizenry.
The sensitisation team paid a courtesy visit to the Aguma Bassa Kingdom, HRM Keke Jimba Williams, who expressed his happiness to the government for coming down to grassroots to sensitise his people, saying he was a victim of 2012 flooding.
“We thank Gov. Yahaya Bello and the Commissioner for Environment, for considering it necessary that all of you should come; we have never received this kind of visitation before not even during the 2012 flooding.
“That is why I am thanking God on behalf of the governor we have today; a young man that really have good plans for the people and always standing by his words.
“Really, the water level is rising; as you come to sensitise us, we have heard you and we shall inturn educate our people especially those at the Riverside,” Williams said.
The monarch, who is also the Chairman Bassa Area & Local Govt. Traditional Council, Oguma, appealed to the State Government through the Commissioner for Environment, to construct camp for Internally Displaced Persons’ (IDPs’ camp) in Bassa for emergency situation.
The Administratior of Bassa LGA, Mr Samuel Zekeri, who was represented by Director of Local Government (DLG), Mr Shiaka Sheidu, said the issue of flooding had been a serious business in Bassa local government.
According to him, the entire land of Bassa was the worst affected in 2012 flooding with great loss of both lives and property, saying the Council has not been relenting on her own part.
“We thank the governor and the commissioner for taken the appropriate measure to let our people know the implication and adverse effects of flooding and the need to leave flood plains,” Zekeri said.
It would be recalled that Gov. Yahaya Bello had on July 14, declared a ‘State of Emergency on Environment’ due to the forecast by Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) of the likely recurrence of 2012 cycle of flooding.
Credits: Stephen Adeleye |NAN
