The Managing Director, National-Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission, (N- HYPPADEC) Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa has sent an urgent appeal to the Federal Government on the need to declare a state of emergency on floods in parts of the country, especially in the commission’s 10-member states of Niger, Kogi, Kwara, Gombe, Taraba Benue, Kaduna, Nassarawa among others.
The call, according to Yelwa has become necessary against the backdrop of the recent incident that claimed no fewer than about 200 lives, and displaced over 208,000 people in 28 states across the country,.
He made the call While addressing newsmen at the Corporate Headquarters of N-HYPPADEC on Monday in Minna Niger State Capital on the 2024 flood situation that has affected communities across the country, just as he described the incidences recorded to poor infrastructure, failure to follow environmental guidelines and ineffective dam management among others.
According to him, “Flood disaster has remained the major and most daring and emergency concern across the country. And looking at the devastation this year as it affects critical infrastructure and people’s means of livelihood coupled with predictions of more floods to come, we are calling on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on flood, especially in N-HYPPADEC member states.”
He stated further that the call on the Federal Government for a declaration of a state of emergency on flood has become necessary in order to reposition relevant agencies and critical stakeholders to not only take proactive measures in containing the devastating effects of flood but also remain on alert to ensure prompt response to possible reoccurrence
Yelwa, however, expressed worries that the situation could get worst in coming days due to the fact that Dadin kowa dam in Gombe state has been filled to capacity but appealed N_HYPPADEC member states not to panic as representative of Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Agriculture along with N_HYPPADEC and Gombe State Government were currently meeting to discuss way out of this problem.
He noted that already, 634 communities have been affected by flood in Benue state with about 30,000 farmlands washed away, 6,959 households have been affected in Kebbi State, One person died and 10,000 farmlands washed away and the problem was similar in Gombe, Taraba, Nasarawa, Kogi and Kaduna States.
He further lamented that this problems poses a great threat to President Bola Tinubu’s quest for food security and wealth creation, while appreciating the President for directing the release of victims support funds to states affected by flood this year which would go a long way in assisting the victims in this trying moment.
He commiserated with victims of flood disaster in affected States and said the N_HYPPADEC was not resting on its oars in containing menace of flood such as construction of 500 flood victims resettlement housing schemes, hydraulic drainage system desilting on Idye flood plains and retraining walls in Kogi, Kebbi and Benue states and advised those on flood plains to abide by instructions from relevant authorities.
According to the preliminary report, Yelwa said 634 communities have been affected with nearly 30,000 farmlands washed away in Benue State, while 6,959 households have been affected with about 10,000 farmlands washed away and one life lost in Kebbi State.
He noted that the situation was similar in Gombe, Taraba, Nasarawa, Kogi, and Kaduna States, highlighting that “this poses a very serious threat to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s quest for food security and wealth creation in the country.”
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