Palpable fears have enveloped residents of Kogi State, especially those in living in Lokoja and near river banks because of the rising level of River Niger.
Our correspondent gathered on Wednesday that the residents are scared of a recurrence of the 2012 flood in some parts of Nigeria after which 2.3 million people were displaced, 597,476 houses destroyed, more than 363 people killed, and an estimated N1.5tn physical and durable assets destroyed, while total estimate of damage and loss was put at N2.6tn, according to Zonal Coordinator, Minna Office, National Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Slaku Bijimi.
But the Kogi State Government urged the residents not to panic over possible flooding, saying there is no cause for alarm.
The Kogi State Deputy Governor, Mr. Yomi Awoniyi, assured the residents of government’s commitment to ensure their welfare. He also assured the residents that the state government was fully prepared as all its agencies had been placed on red alert to tackle flood if it occurred. He however prayed that the state will never experience a recurrence of the 2012 flood.
Awoniyi represented by the Commissioner for Environment, Tayo Aremu, spoke on Wednesday in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital during an inspection of the rising River Niger.
Areas visited by Awoniyi include, Gadumo, Ganaja, Adankolo New layout areas and Confluence Beach.
The deputy governor said though the level of the river was above normal, it was not enough to cause panic among the residents.
He, however, warned them against building on water-ways and on flood plains, saying the government at the appropriate time will pull down such illegal buildings and structures.
He appealed to residents to be sensitive, vigilant and to exercise all necessary caution to avoid a repeat of the 2012 flood.
He said the state government is in constant touch with the dam operators in the country, adding that the government had intensified efforts to alert the people in the event of any plan to release water from the dams.
The deputy governor appealed to the residents not to ignore warnings of and pieces of advice from government to always build on higher ground and to move to higher plains in the event of the continuous receding of the waters.
