10, 000 families displaced by flood in Kogi ―Bello

No fewer than 10, 000 families have been displaced by flood across nine local government areas of Kogi State.

Apart from the people, at least 5000 houses were also affected by the incident with Lokoja, Ajaokuta and Ibaji local government areas mostly affected.

The state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, who said this in Lokoja, the state capital during the inspection of flood affected areas in the state, also said government had set up a camp for the displaced people.

The governor, who sympathised with the victims of the flood, however said residential buildings and filling stations built on waterways would be demolished.

According to him, such move was part of drastic steps being taken by government to control flood, particularly in the state capital.

Bello expressed worries that whenever the rivers Niger and Benue overflow, Kogi is the most affected because of its location as the confluence state.

He said, “I have moved round to assess the extent of damage by the flood in the affected places and various channels that were blocked by illegal structures and illegal activities, we have seen them over 10000 families were affected in the state, we are very proactive in the state and we have moved the people away from the affected area

“We want to appeal to federal government and NEMA that when flood happens in any part of river Benue and river Niger, Kogi state is most affected, I don’t have to shout, I don’t have to beg too much for federal government to come and assist us, in our part, with the little resources we have we have been able to help our people we need their assistance so that our people that are affected can be resettled”.

The governor stressed that the displaced persons would be resettled in a facility provided by Federal Mortgage Bank in the state capital.

However, the NEMA on Tuesday donated some relief materials to the victims of flood in the state.

The materials donated according to the commissioner for environment, Rosemary Oshikoya, include mattresses, mosquito nets and food items.