Kogi East Neighborhood Watch (KENW) has expressed appreciation to the Rev (Dr) Anthony Ademu Adaji of Catholic Diocese of Idah for the transport support, accommodation and care to the vulnerable in Ibaji LGA who were affected by the ravaging flood in Kogi state.
KENW noted that the people of Ibaji local government have suffered from untold hardships occasioned by this year’s flood water which naturally ravaged their entire community with impunity.
KENW added that the devastating effect of 2012 cannot be compared to 2022, adding that the people of Ibaji land are the worst affected in this year’s flooding as the entire council was covered with flood water, destroying lives and farm crops.
The organisation therefore called on political office holders, reputable bodies, private companies and people of goodwill to demonstrate care and support for the victims of the flood water in Ibaji council over this reoccurring disaster that have caused great pains and sorrow to them.
According to Isaac Inah, the secretary of Kogi East Neighborhood Watch, the organisation on her own part has co-facilitated a platform called ‘Ibaji Flood Plains Community Management Cooperative Society’ with a Management Committee headed by Dr (Mrs) Joy Ede Ukoje of Federal University Lokoja.
The cooperative society is to receive aid and to mobilise support for the victims through the existing platforms of the Idah Catholic Diocese and the direct community platform through which assistance can reach the victims in a transparent, accountable and timely manner.
He added that the cooperative society has its account with UBA (2283428346) to receive and transmit support directly to the victims through the Catholic Diocese and the Community platform.
While the cooperative society is saddled with the responsibility for documenting the data of the vulnerable for further action, KEWN assured all donors and partners that the Ibaji Flood Plains Community Management Cooperative Society is led by a reputable team of non political citizens of Ibaji land.
KEWN added that a couple of credible people of Kogi East area, who are committed to local solutions and long term interventions are on board to ensure the dignity of the industrious people in Ibaji land and its environs affected by this annual debilitating loss of livelihoods, farmlands, assets and resources are protected.
The group contended that Ibaji people are often abandoned by successive governments in terms of needs at this moment of pains caused by this annual persisting flooding in their area.
KENW therefore called on the Government at all levels and agencies, particularly NEMA and SEMA to be proactive in supporting the victims of Ibaji Flood Plains urgently in order to de-escalate the possible worrisome insecurity that may attend such flooding experience as witnessed in the past.
However, the organisation called upon the Federal Government to complete the works on the dredging of the Rivers Niger and Benue, without further delay to mitigate against future occurrence of this natural disasters in the areas.
The organisation said this would be the permanent solution to the problem of perennial flooding, exacerbated by climate change phenomenon that has bedevilled the world in this century.
While KEWN thanked the state government, agencies like NIWA and HYPPADEC and host of others for their assistance so far , it called on the State government and private sector to improve on their assistance, in funding, by setting up of community shelters in high grounds within Ibaji before the next flooding season in 2023.
