Stakeholders strategise against flood disaster in Niger, Kwara

Stakeholders in disaster management in Niger and Kwara states yesterday met in Minna to chart course on how to tackle the menace of flooding in the two states as the rain intensifies.

The meeting which was called at the instance of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) was attended by officials of Nigerian Methrological Agency (NiMET), National Environmental Standards and Regulation Enforcement  Agency (NESREA), Niger state Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), the Fire Service and North South Power Company Limited amongst others.

North Central Trust reports that Niger has been at the receiving end of yearly flooding with over 10,000 people displaced across 23 out of the 25 local government areas last rainy season.

Mrs Lydia Madu Wagami, Head NEMA, Minna Operations Office in Charge of Niger and Kwara, said the meeting was for stakeholders to discuss the potential threats of flood in the two states.

She said the meeting was also  to draw out modalities and itemised the roles and responsibilities with first flood respondent agencies on how to reduce the effects of flood.

“The meeting is our early preparedness based on the prediction by NiMET on quick to response to flood and how to mitigate its effect,” she said

Also, Mr Pwajok Tok, Niger State Inspector, NIMET, said the late onset of rain and early predictions by the agency were to allow flood prone areas take early measures to avert losses.

Deputy Director, Center for Disaster Risk Management and Development Agency, Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, Prof. Shamsudeen Ojoye, urged stakeholders to work together to further reduce the menace of flooding.

District Head of Gurumana in Shiroro Local Government Area of the state, Alhaji Aliyu Umaru, called on the state and federal governments to fast track the compensation process of the people in the area to enable them relocate.

“We are appealing to the federal government to compensate those living in the upper stream area of Shiroro dam to enable them move away from the waterside,” he said.