Flood: 11 dead, 41,192 displaced in three Niger LGAs

Niger State Government has said that no fewer than about 11 people have been killed following a heavy downpours in Mokwa , Shiroro and Muya local government areas among others in the state recently.

Apart from the rainfall, the agency noted that the flooding and the attendant disaster were caused by the overflow of the various hydro-power stations in the state and the blocking of waterways with refuse dumps.

The DG, NSEMA, Hon.Abdullahi Baba Arah, stated this who in a statement on Thursday, adding that the template was a collaboration between the Agency,in conjunction with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Minna operations office.

The NSEMA boss noted that 6,865 households in 34 communities have also been displaced and were currently in the Internally Displaced persons (IDPs) camp following the September 21 flood, hilighting further that five of the deceased persons were from Mokwa LGA, while two each were from Shiroro and Munya LGAs, just as one each were from Katcha and Rijau LGAs of the state.

He said that 246 school infrastructures have been washed away, creating accommodation challenges for pupils, students and their teachers.

According to Baba Arah, “We can also report that as of September this year, 18 bridges and 80 culverts have been destroyed by floods, causing communication problems for people in the affected areas.

“The state may also be grappling with serious food shortages against the backdrops of the fact that the flood has affected about 11,8692 hectares of farmlands, some of which had crops ready for harvests and no fewer than over I,600 fish ponds were also washed away.”

Furthermore, the statement emphasised that the state government has approved the immediate procurement of food and non food items (relief materials).

NSEMA, in addition,.was said to have also reached out to stakeholders, donor institutions, and international partners for interventions in favour of the affected persons”, the statement further added

Meanwhile, the affected LGAs according to the DG,NSEMA, include Mokwa, Katcha, Lavun, Lapai, Agaie, Shiroro, Munya, Gbako, and Kontagora LGAs while others were Bosso, Edati, Agwara, Magama, Bida, Mashegu, Borgu, Gurara, Suleja, and Rijau LGAs of the state.

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