The Ibaji Flood Plains Community Management Cooperative Society has called for support to execute the phase one of its flood impact mitigation project.
Of the nine local government areas usually affected by devastating flood menace in Kogi state, Ibaji is always the worst hit as the almost all communities in the LGA gets displaced with attendant massive loss of properties and source of livelihood.
Addressing a press conference in Lokoja on Tuesday, the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the group, Dr. Joy Ede Ukoje, said Ibaji people are tired of moving and being treated as a destitute population.
Dr. Ukoje announced that the group has successfully designed the proposed Ibaji Community Shelter, with detailed bill of quantities and a prototype that will ensure indigenes of Ibaji communities are not displaced by flood.
The Ibaji Community Shelter, she explained, will help Ibaji residents stay within their communities during floods while sustaining livelihoods through mitigation intervention, social services on and off the flooding seasons.
The average Community Shelter is estimated to cost about N120 million each and requires N2.4billion to execute the first phase of the project.
Dr. Ukoje said as a matter of urgency, Ibaji requires no less than 20 Community Shelters in the area this year, preferably before the forecasted flood arrive.
“As concerned citizens of Ibaji and environs, we sought to create local sustainable food mitigation solutions – Community Shelters and sustainable interventions – to promote and preserve the dignity, rights and socioeconomic security of Ibaji people, land, forests, environment and resources that are feeding the state and nation.
“We welcome partners who are committed to transparency and genuine delivery of solutions to our people, rather than yearly provision of hand-outs to industrious people of Ibaji.
“We strongly appeal for funding, donations and collaborations, as a matter of urgency, to build and deliver Community Shelters for Ibaji people, by government, foundations, private sector and well meaning individuals.
“Our pledge in Ibaji Flood Plains MPCS is to foster transparent delivery of services, sustainable flood cum climate mitigation solutions that enable people in the Ibaji plains to survive and pursue their livelihoods in dignity; and accountability to all donors and partners,” she said.
Since September 2022, Ibaji Flood Plains MPCS has empowered over 280 women farmers across the ten wards of Ibaji LGA and environs with a well documented cash transfers, livelihood assistance and all-season farming support for sustainable agricultural production in a transparent and accountable way.
About Ibaji
Ibaji, a local government area in Kogi state, Nigeria, is renowned for its rich culture, honesty, tradition, industrious agrarian people, proud producers of yams, cassava, rice, maize, fish, various vegetables, nuts, livestock etc that feed millions locally and nationally in all seasons.
Every year, since 2012, Ibaji with an area of 1,377km2 has been heavily flooded between July and November. The 2022 flooding affected the entire estimated current population of over 190,000 inhabitants (population of 128,129 as at the 2006 census), displaced internally; and to various locations in neighbouring Idah as well as neighbouring states. Sadly, in recent past, there has been incidences of rape, abuse and violation of the rights of internally displaced people of Ibaji – a people victimized by the systemic failures, historical neglect by governments, corruption, destitution, poverty that undermines achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Yearly, Ibaji’s productivity and people are upended by the flooding of the River Niger and adjourning streams, which if well managed creates alluvial grounds for agriculture, agrobusiness and socioeconomic development.
Successive governments and leaders continue to fail the people of Ibaji, which today is the only LGA in Nigeria in 2023 without a national grid, no federal or usable state roads, and no single infrastructure. The few educational institutions and health facilities are dilapidated, amplified by perennial flooding of Ibaji flood plains, exacerbated by climate crisis due to persistent neglect by all tiers of government in Nigeria.
Recently, Ibaji was federally designated as the first oil producing LGA in Central Nigeria, fetching more revenue but unfortunately languishing in poverty and deprivation.
For sponsors and partners, kindly contact:
Dr (Mrs) Joy Ede Ukoje, Chair of the Executive Committee – +234 816 150 4765
Dr. Isaac Isa Achoba, Chair, Board of Trustees – +234 703 923 6772
Dr. Omakoji Oyiguh (KENW) Member, Board of Trustees – +234 803 973 6215
Me. Samuel Ekele, Media Director – +234 806 488 9977
