Kogi Restates Commitment to Mitigate Effects of Flooding

Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

Ahead of the impending flood forecasted for 2023, the Kogi State Government has reiterated its commitment to mitigate the impending flood, stressing that the state government is adequately prepared ahead of the 2023 flood.

The Special Adviser on Humanitarian, Hajiya Amina Usman Musa, yesterday disclosed this while speaking at the Kogi State Flood Humanitarian Preparedness Plan for 2023 Stakeholders Engagement meeting held in Lokoja.

Musa explained that the state government in collaborations with international organisations is preparing hard to ensure that the people would not be victims of the impending 2023 flood, following the Nigerian Meteorological Agency NIMET prediction that there would be more rainfall in 2023 and likelihood of serious flood across the country.

According to the Special Adviser on Humanitarian, International and Nigerian Red Cross Society and the Humanitarian Flood Local Organising Committee, “We the members are constituted from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

“In line with the desire to continue to seek support from credible partners, we have converged here today for the second phase of the stakeholders’ meeting to discuss and deliberate on the preparedness, modalities, plan and strategies on the predicted flood for 2023.

“To continue consultation and identify needs related to early warning and preparedness for the anticipated flooding and to identify the existing government resources available to contribute to flood early warning and preparedness system.”

Hajiya Musa stressed further that they are expected to identify gaps and provide recommendations for short term, medium term, and long term solutions for flood early warning preparedness system.

“Expected outcomes are to: ‘map out government available resources and gap response to the expected flood for 2023 and identify the potential UN agencies NGOs and private sector actors that can complement the government effort with their respective areas of mandate and available resources.

“Moving forward, the Kogi State government is trying all possible means to prepare for a permanent relocation for the people living at the river banks and prone area, and in order to achieve this, we are seeking the support on two of the following: ‘Relocation of communities and flood affected victims to a higher ground for safety (temporary) and construction of flood housing estate phase 2 (permanent).

“The building of flood estate phase II is a continuation to the already existing phase, and the issue of relocation of the flood victims is very paramount that the Kogi State Government through the Bureau of Lands provided land for the construction and the relocation of the affected victims,” she said.