By Stephen Adeleye.
The Kogi Government has collaborated with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and other partners to mitigate threats ff flood in the state.
In her remarks at the stakeholders’ meeting in Lokoja, Hajiya Amina Usman-Musa, the Special Adviser to Kogi Governor on Humanitarian services commended the IOM, UNFPA and other partners for their collaboration in support the state government in flood management.
Usman-Musa reiterated Kogi government’s commitment to mitigate threats posed by floods, this year by increasing the efficiency of early warning system, strengthening preparedness and response.
She said that the government was aware of the magnitude of the Flood experienced by Nigeria in 2022 and the Nigerian Metrological Agency (NiMET) prediction of an intense rainfall and long duration seasons.
“Kogi is not giving anything to chance this time around. That is why the stakeholders meeting was held to discuss and deliberate on the preparedness, modalities, plan and strategies on the predicted flood for 2023.
“Part of the objectives of the meeting is to continue consultation and identify needs related to early warning and preparedness for the anticipated flooding.
“To identify the existing government resources available to contribute to flood early warning and preparedness system, identify gaps and provide recommendations for short term, medium term and long-term solutions for flood early warning and preparedness system.
“The expected outcomes will be to map out government available resources and gap response to the expected flood for 2023, ” she said.
The aide said the meeting will also identify the potential UN agencies INGOs, NGOs, Private sector actors that could compliment the government’s effort with their respective areas of mandate and available resources.
“The issue of relocation of the flood victims is very paramount that the Kogi State Government through the Bureau of lands provided land for the construction and the relocation of the affected victims.
“These lands are situated at Karara, Jamata, Wada road bypass, off Ganaja and Area 10 part of the State. These locations were visited during the last stakeholders meeting.
“The flood issue is a very huge project for the state and will only require the financial assistance from the Federal Government and Development partners to achieve our goal”, she said.
She called for partnership with corporate organisations and NGOs in the relocation of communities and flood affected victims to a higher ground for safety as a temporary measure.
Usman-Musa said Gov. Yahaya Bello, acknowledged the commitment of all the support provided by all the international partners and private companies during and after the previous crises, and implored everyone for their cooperation.
Also speaking, the Humanitarian Programme Analyst at UNFPA, Dr. Matthew Onoja, described UNFPA as the foremost Reproductive Health Agency of the United Nations and had been at the forefront of providing support to people in need in crisis-affected areas.
He reiterated the commitment of UNFPA in ensuring the actualization of its commitment to achieve 3 zeros by 2030 – zero maternal deaths, unmet need for family planning and gender-based violence and harmful practices.
“In 2018 when the Federal Government declared a flood disaster across 4 most-affected states by flood (including Kogi), UNFPA was at hand to provide critical life-saving support to the government and people of Kogi state to address the need of women and girls.
“In the aftermath of the 2022 flood that affected 9 Local Government Areas of Kogi State, UNFPA embarked on joint missions to Kogi State with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a sister UN agency.
“With the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) listing Kogi as one of the red-alert states for 2023 floods, UNFPA affirmed its commitment to the flood response in Kogi State, by supporting the State Government to put in place a contingency plan to adequately mitigate the risk and impact of any flood that may arise,” Onoja said.
He said that UNFPA gave the technical and financial support to the Special Adviser on Humanitarian to the Kogi Governor, who convened the stakeholders meeting on the State Humanitarian Preparedness to harmonise the state’s flood response plan and enlist the support of more partners.
Onoja commended the Kogi Government for the initiative to put a flood response plan in place and urged all government MDAs to work in harmony, avoid duplication of efforts and resources, and attract more partner support for impact.
On his part Mr Tsegaye Asrat, the Field Coordination Officer of IOM said the agency has been in Kogi responding to flood emergencies and always preparing to support the government and most vulnerable population affected by flood.
“We are at the preparation stage; our area of intervention is sheltering and management of displaced victims of flood just Incase it happens as predicted by NiMET,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that participants at the workshop include: IOM, United Nation Population Fund Agency (UNPFA), Save the Children International.
Others are Nigerian Redcross Society and the Humanitarian Flood Local Organizing Committee in which members are constituted from various MDAs.
NAN reports that the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) had warned that this year’s flood might be worse than in 2022.
Farmlands, infrastructure, houses, vehicles and other properties were destroyed in 34 States- Adamawa, Anambra, Bayelsa, Kebbi, Kogi, Kaduna, Niger, Yobe, and Zamfara were among the most affected.
The UN released 10,5million dollars from the Nigeria Humanitarian Fund (NHF) and the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to alleviate the impacts of floods.
The 2023 Flood Outlook issued by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) in February revealed that 178 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in 32 States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are under threat. (NAN)
