Flood disaster has so far killed 25 persons, injured 20 others, destroyed over 3,500 houses and damaged thousands of hectares of farmlands worth N950 million in Bauchi State.
The state’s Deputy Governor, Senator Baba Tela, who disclosed the statistics when the Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Alhaji Mohammed (rtd), paid him a visit at the Government House on Wednesday, said that floods had affected almost every part of the state.
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He added that 15 local government areas were worst affected by the disaster this year.
The deputy governor said: “I have personally, on behalf of the Governor, visited the areas and have seen the level of devastation of the flood this year, and this is because of the unusual rainfall which was predicted.
“The Governor himself also visited three local government areas that were inundated with flooding.”
“Areas that have not seen water or flood for the last five years or so are now impassable, inaccessible and inundated with a lot of water there.
“We have over 3,500 houses destroyed, over 2,200 farmlands have also been destroyed.
“And you know in this part of the country, we solidly depend on farming so when you have over 2,000 farms destroyed, that will give you an indication of what is to come – lack of food – as time goes on.”
He explained that the flood disaster had rendered many people homeless while farmers have lost hope of a bumper harvest this year following the washing away of their farmlands with the produce.
“In the process of the flooding, we have sadly lost about 25 lives and that is quite substantial.
“We also have those who were injured in the process, about 20 people, who were properly treated and discharged and they have returned to their normal activities.
“The quantum of the amount of the farmlands, the houses that have been destroyed by the flooding this year is almost N950 million.”
Responding, the Director General of NEMA said he was in the state on an advocacy visit to go round the country in view of the flood emergency that was envisaged by the agency through the predictions and warning by weather forecast agencies in the country.
Represented by NEMA’s Director Liaison Services, Bashir Gargar, Mohammed commiserated with the government and people of Bauchi state particularly those who lost their loved ones and property during the disasters in the state.
He said that the Nigerian Metrological Agency (NiMet) had categorically stated that the country would experience an above normal rainfall in 2020.
He said: “The annual flood outlook this year predicted that 102 local government areas in 28 states fall within the highly probable risk states while 225 local government areas in 36 states including the FCT, fall within the moderately probable risk zones.”
“Unfortunately, the predicted floods have started to occur in many parts of the country, Bauchi state is not an exception.
“Therefore, it is imperative to activate all plans and measures against the prediction as to the season moves to its peak.
“This year, the highly probable risk area in Bauchi state is Zaki LGA and that probable risk area with minimal expectations are Alkaleri, Bauchi, Jama’are, Itas Gadau, Tafawa Balewa, Shira, Ganjuwa, Kirfi and Bogoro local government areas of Bauchi state.”
