Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday visited some flood victims and flood sites in Kogi state with the assurance that the Federal Government would send in more relief materials and offer necessary supports to assuage the plights of the affected people.
Osinbajo, who was at some of the IDPs camps in Kotonkarfe and Lokoja, sympathised with the victims on the situation.
He said President Muhammadu Buhari has given definite instruction to assess the situation in the state to be able to take decision as to what steps can be immediately taken.
“I have already done some preliminary assessment; some relief materials have been sent and there is a need for more and we will ensure that more relief materials are sent.
“We should be able to accommodate our people to be as comfortable as possible despite the terrible circumstances of this flooding.
“We moved round and we have taken a look at many of the flood sites and it is very clear that a lot of damage has been done to farm lands and to houses”, he said.
Osinbajo said it was the intention of the Federal Government to work in collaboration with the state governments to offer some rehabilitation and some comfort in whatever way possible to those who have lost their farmlands and those who have lost their homes.
“So, this is only the first stage; I am here to look at what has gone wrong and what has happened. Land and properties are under water and after this period, when the water recedes, that is really when the hard work begins because those who have lost farm lands need to be restored somehow and need to be compensated including those who have lost houses and property.
“I hope that in the next few weeks, we should be able to return people, not just to their farm lands but also to their homes.
“In the meantime, it is our duty to make sure that you are all taken care of. The duty of the Federal Government and the State Government is to make sure all that need to be taken care of are duly taken care of”, he assured.
