The Kogi State government has said that over 250,000 people in eight communities may be displaced in the event of water flood in this year’s wet season.
This was disclosed at a stakeholders’ meeting on flood management led by the Commissioner for Environment and Ecological Management, Engineer Joseph Oluwasegun, on Monday.
He said the meeting was in response to the rising water levels of the River Niger and Benue, as well as to plot away forward towards the 2024 flood prediction by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET).
42 IDP camps have reportedly been established across 8 Local Government Areas, with 9 flood-prone areas identified, as part of the state government proactive measures towards mitigating against the flood impact in this wet season.
The meeting was led by the Commissioner for Environment and Ecological Management Engr. Joseph Oluwasegun and had in attendance key stakeholders on flood matters.
The stakeholders, in their separate areas of expertise explored various aspects of flood management, mitigation strategies, emergency response protocols, and evacuation procedures, with a focus on developing a comprehensive plan to minimize the impact in the event of flooding.
Engineer Oluwasegun called for a unified response to the impending flood threat, highlighting the need for seamless collaboration among stakeholders.
He further emphasized on the need to intensify public sensitization efforts in order to ensure that flood prone communities are adequately informed and relocate on-time to mitigate hardships of water flooding .
Also, the Executive Secretary, Kogi State Emergency Management Agency, Alhaji Mouktar Atimah, stressed that an Emergency Operation Center would be established to facilitate effective coordination and response to the flood situation.
The stakeholders include officials from the State Emergency Management Agency led by the Executive Secretary, Alh Mouktar Atimah, Commissioner for Agriculture ,Hon. Timothy Ojomah, Commissioner of Water Resources, Engr.Yahaya Farouk, Commissioner for Humanitarian and Poverty Alleviation Hon Rabietu Okute, Dr.Ojotule Austin (S/Epid) from Ministry of Health, GM Kogi State sanitation and Waste Management Board Mr.Ajayi Olufemi as well as officials from state ministry of Environment and Ecological Management
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