Kogi state government says 250,000 people spread across nine communities in the state are at the risk being displaced in the event of water flood this year.
The State Commissioner for Environment and Ecological Management, Engr. Joseph Oluwasegun, disclosed this on Monday during a meeting with stakeholders.
Oluwasegun said the meeting was mainly called to fashion out preparations towards the 2024 flood prediction by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET).
He also called for action following rise in water levels of the Rivers Niger and Benue.
He announced that 42 internally displaced persons (IDP) camps have been established across 8 Local Government Areas, with 9 flood-prone areas communities as part of the state government proactive measures towards mitigating against the flood impact in this wet season.
Some key stakeholders, in their separate remarks in their different areas of expertise spoke on various aspects of flood management, mitigation strategies, emergency response protocols, and evacuation procedures, with a focus on developing a comprehensive plan to minimize the impact in the event of flooding.
Oluwasegun called for a unified response to the impending flood threat, highlighting the need for seamless collaboration among stakeholders.
He further emphasized on the need to intensify public sensitization efforts in order to ensure that flood prone communities are adequately informed and relocate on-time to mitigate hardships of water flooding .
Also speaking, the Executive Secretary, Kogi State Emergency Management Agency (KOSEMA), Alhaji Mouktar Atimah, disclosed that an Emergency Operation Center would be established to facilitate effective coordination and response to the flood situation.
