Follow Us on Google
From John Adams, Minna
The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) has confirmed the death of seven people while several others were declared missing as a result of flood disaster in parts of the state.
The state Emergency Management Agency also said that houses, farm lands, bridges, and some links roads have been either washed away or destroyed as the flood ripped through seven local government areas of the state.
The Director General of the Agency, Mallam Ibrahim Inga in a statement in Minna on Friday gave the names of the affected local government areas to include, Lavun, Magama, Rafi, Kontagora, Gbako, Mashegu and wushishi.
According to Inga, the flood, occasioned by over four days of rain fall in the state, has equally rendered many homeless and has affected the socio-economic activities of the people.
He disclosed that of the seven death, six were recorded in Wushshi, while one in Rafi local government, adding that “the general assessment of the rainfall impacts is still ongoing and periodic update will be made public as it unfolds”.
He pointed out that as the state battle to cope with the reality of changing climate and with the latest NiMet prediction of four days of heavy rainfall in five States of the Federation which includes Niger State, communities living around riverine areas have been advised to relocated to the high ground to avoid further disaster.
This, he said has become necessary “because NiMeT latest prediction indicates that the heavy rainfall will be accompany by violent windstorm as such people should avoid standing under trees during rainfall and also staying in substandard structures”.
The Director General also warned against erecting structures on water ways, avoid dumping of refuse in drainages and above all, limit activities around River banks during this peak raining season to avoid being flooded.
Inga then assured that the .Agency will continue provides Early Warning information to build the resilience of our communities.
