Niger govt directs relocation of communities on flood plains

The Niger State government has directed that communities recently ravaged by flood along the plains of River Niger be relocated immediately as a temporary measure.

Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State  gave the directive on Sunday when he visited Guza village, one of the communities affected by flood in Edati Local Government Area.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that some communities in four wards of Edati and Mokwa Local Government areas of the state were ravaged by flood recently.

The governor directed the State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) to ensure the affected communities were  taken to safe areas as reports indicated that the water level would continue to rise.

He assured the villagers that the government would provide relief  materials and medicines to ameliorate their pains and check the outbreak of diseases.

The governor directed the agencies with the responsibility to  relocate victims to ensure immediate compliance with the directive, adding that government would  not tolerate any  laxity.

He, however, commended the proactive steps taken by NSEMA, which  helped in averting casualties.

Bello added that government would soon find permanent solution to the problems of areas prone to flooding.

Responding, a victim of the flood, Malam Hassan Sonfada, thanked the governor for visiting and sympathising with the people.

NAN recalled that 30 states were affected by flood in Nigeria in 2012 when water released from Lagdo Dam in Cameroon led to the overflow of River Niger and River Benue.

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency and other relevant agencies have warned that 11 states, including Niger, will experience flooding as the rains intensify.