The people of Atakpa Community in Bassa Local Government Area of Kogi State have been advised to relocate permanently from their present location, which is a flood plain, to a higher ground.
The Deputy Governor of the State, and Chairman of the Flood Management Committee, Arc Yomi Awoniyi, made the remark during his visit to flood affected Local Government Areas in the State called on the people not to pay lip service to the consistent warning on the need for them to move away from flood prone areas.
The Deputy Governor,who inspected some tents being used by some members of the community, which was supplied to them by the State government during last year flood disaster, urged them to settle permanently in that old camp site and relocate from flood prone areas.
Awoniyi said the State Government would exploit the possibility of assisting the community in their resettlement plan if they heed the suggestion to relocate.
He said the State Government would not locate a camp in Atakpa community if there is flood disaster this year, pointing out that only two camps would be developed in the LGA, and these would be located in Mozum and Kpata
This, he said, was because the two locations are central and are accessible to the generality of the expected displaced persons in the LGA.
The Councilor representing the Ward, Mal Haruna Ismaila, who briefed the Deputy Governor, disclosed that the people of the community are still staying in the tents supplied to them since last year, and appealed to the State government to supply them with more tents.
The Deputy Governor also inspected the primary school in the community, which was in a state of disrepair, and promised that government would look into its rehabilitation.
