Flood: Soludo cries out for help, Bayelsa, Delta, Kogi overwhelmed

The Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has sought the support of governments at all levels, agencies and individuals to tackle flooding currently ravaging the state, as well as some parts of the country.

Soludo noted that the flood water emanated and surged from Cameroon, asking the Federal Government to dialogue with the government of Cameroon with a view to proffering a lasting solution.

The PUNCH reports that Soludo made the call on Thursday when he visited the Internally Displaced Persons’ camps set up for flood victims in the Onitsha North Local Government Area, while also receiving displaced persons from Anambra West and IDP camps at Umuoba Anam and Ekpe Nneyi, Umueri in the Anambra East Local Government Area.

The governor called for support to help alleviate the hardship faced by people displaced by the flooding across the country at large and Anambra State in particular.

He said, “Anambra State Government is doing everything possible to alleviate the sufferings of the people. They need support now and afterwards because their houses, properties and farmlands are submerged under water. I am worried that they will have to start life afresh.

“We are receiving people from Delta State to join the IDP Camp in Onitsha North. Today alone, over 400 displaced persons have reported here.”

Bayelsa’s flood committee

Meanwhile in Bayelsa, the state government has announced the constitution of a task force to mitigate the impact of flooding in the state.

According to a statement on Thursday, the task force was set up during the weekly State Executive Council meeting presided over by the Deputy Governor, Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, on Wednesday.

The state Commissioner for Environment, Iselema Gbaranbiri, told journalists that he would chair the committee which had his counterparts from the Ministries of Works and Infrastructure, Health, Lands, Housing and Urban Development, as well as the commissioners representing the three senatorial districts and the State Emergency Management Agency as members.

Kebbi donates N10m to Kogi

The Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu, has donated N10m to support the Kogi State Government’s efforts to provide palliative to the victims of the ravaging flood in parts of the state.

Bagudu made the donation on Thursday when he paid a solidarity visit to his Kogi State counterpart, Yahaya Bello, on the devastating flood in the state.

He said, “Under your leadership, Kogi is doing well in agriculture. We are competing in rice production but this flood would have reversed those gains.

“On behalf of the good people of Kebbi, I sympathise with you and the good people of Kogi State over the casualties recorded.”

Bello thanked Bagudu for identifying with the state and called on the Federal Government to support the state’s efforts at mitigating the effects of the flood.

New dams needed

The Director-General of the Delta State Orientation Bureau, Eugene Uzum, has canvassed for the construction of additional dams in Nigeria as a measure to checkmate incessant flooding.

Uzum stressed the need to build more dams to supplement the Kainji and Shiroro Dams which were said to be bigger than the one in Cameroon and still could not stem flooding in the country.

He made the call while speaking on a national television programme alongside other guests who took an overview of the ravaging flooding across the coaster parts of the country.

Delta market

Oko environs, including Oko Market popularly called Hausa Market in Delta State have been sacked by ravaging flood.

One of our correspondents reported that goats, cows and chicken were drowned in the flood.

Other goods, including tomatoes, onions and other perishable goods were also damaged in the flood.