Floods : Many states at risk
Category: Cover stories Written by Rakiya A. Muhammad, Sokoto; Yusha’u A Ibrahim, Katsina; Hope Abah, Makurdi; Ahmed Mohammed, Bauchi; Aliyu M. Hamagam, Minna; Abdullahi Anako & Abdulkadir Badsha Muktar, Dutse & Usman Bello, Lokoja Hits: 88
From last year, the incidents of severe flood disasters have been the nightmare of governments, communities and individuals, who have suffered various degrees of losses. But hope of providing minimal succour to affected victims is still a distant echo, even as threats of fresh flooding looms large as relived in this report.
In recent times, Nigerians in many states of the federation, especially in the North have lived with the nightmare of devastating floods. It has consumed lives, ravaged communities, destroyed properties and rendered many more homeless and destitute.
Weekly Trust investigations avail that with no alternatives abodes for settlement, many of the victims go back to inhabit the same abodes flooding pushed them out, as soon as the water recedes.
The plight of victims finds illustration in the pungent and repeated calls by Sokoto State, governor Aliyu Wamakko for people living in flood prone areas to vacate such places in order to avoid any ugly occurrence. But these calls are hardly obeyed in most states where people are in this dilemma, as there are no signs of relocation to safer areas by majority of people.
“We have nowhere to move to,” Sulaiman, one of those living in a flood prone area in Sokoto stated, adding that though they were seriously affected by flood last year, but have no alternative areas to relocate .
Similarly, in the Nassarawa Gidan Igwe area of the state, a high risk flood area, visible signs of the previous flood problems are still manifest. But the residents go about their normal business, as if everything has normalized and more to it, new structures are springing up in the area.
The inhabitants added, “as long as we don’t have a choice, we will remain here. We will only run to our neighbours if the flood comes and when it goes, we shall come back. But if we get safer places, we are ever ready to vacate because we wouldn’t want to face the devastating flood problem, the government should assist poor ones like us. We don’t have anywhere to go”.
A youth leader in the area, Murtala appealed for government’s intervention saying it’s hard for a poor man to vacate his place when he does not have an alternative. He added that those with families , more than a wife, with many children are hit hardest by this problem of relocation.
But Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Jabbo Kilgori said there are provisions for people in most of the flood prone areas, to move to higher ground level lands, which he said was provided by the local governments for affected people to relocate.
He described the Nassarawa Gidan Igwe as a very dangerous area in terms of flood disasters.
“These people are not really supposed to be there. That place is supposed to be farm land and not residential area. It is an encroachment they have done into the riverine areas and I think the Sokoto North local government and Wamakko are doing something on that”, he stated.
“We heard the announcement over the radio that people living in flood prone areas should relocate, but we don’t know where to go to. If government can assist us to move to another environment, we would gladly relocate,” the inhabitants stated.
Same agonies over flood have been the lot of some LGAs in Katsina state. So far, the five LGAs of Kankia, Charanchi, Mashi, Daura and Zango have been severely affected by flood.
Though, no life was lost, but dozens were rendered homeless, scores of domestic animals killed and crops as well as household items worth millions of naira were destroyed by the disaster.
Like previous disasters, this year’s flooding in Katsina happened following heavy down pours experienced in the state weeks back. Weekly Trust gathered that the disaster has wrecked havoc on some communities in the five affected local governments.
In Charanchi LGA for instance, the entire village of Gadar-Yantuluna was sacked by the flood spearing only a community mosque in the village. Victims of the disaster, who took refuge at four classrooms block of a primary school in a near-by village of Kartaka, said the flood has destroyed properties worth millions of naira.
They expressed fear for outbreak of diseases due to overcrowding the makeshift camps, as they alleged that they were creamed together in a four classroom block at the camp. One of them, Sabi’u Mai-unguwa said “Virtually all our houses were affected by the flood. The structure that was spared by the flood was the village mosque; its structure, roofing and windows were all intact.”
The Transition Management Committee Chairman of Charanchi council, Yahaya Galadima who led other officials of the council to the village on an assessment visit, said the council had concluded arrangements to relocate the community to another place.
Galadima said the council has also provided relief materials which included foodstuff, mat and drugs to the victims assuring that the ‘council would sustain constant supply of food, water and clothing to the affected victims.”
In Zango local government, Weekly Trust gathered that 580 houses have been destroyed and crops worth millions of naira washed away by the flood.
Even last year, 18 out of the 34 LGAs of the state were affected by the disaster and seven persons confirmed killed by it in Safana, Mai’Adua, Kurfi and Mani LGAs.
However, victims of this year’s flood disaster in the state have so far received donation of relief materials from the National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA). The agency’s Director-General, Alhaji Muhammad Sani Sidi last week, donated relief items worth millions of naira to the victims.
However, Benue state seems to be lucky this year as they have so far not recorded any incident of recent floods. Regardless of this seeming blessing, the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) says it is ready to combat the tides if it changes, especially with over 36,000 persons displaced in more than five LGAs of the state which included; Makurdi, Agatu, Gwer-west, Logo and Kastina-ala respectively in last year’s flooding .
The state government said it is not leaving anything to chance against the background of last year’s floods which caused unprecedented economic losses and human sufferings to people in the state.
SEMA’s executive secretary, Adikpo Agbatse disclosed that a minimum of 6,000 farmers were affected to the extent that the incurred loses worth N1.6 billion. Besides, over N19 billion damages were reportedly lost to the flood last year.
He explained that 12 local government areas have already been mapped as flood disaster prone areas and likely to experience heavy flooding this year too, if nothing is done at all.
Meanwhile, in Bauchi, SEMA confirmed that a nine –year old girl and three women were killed by floods.
A resident of Bauchi Metropolis, Hajiya Aishatu Mohammed Shekal said it’s a problem they have faced for more than two decades. “We have drainage, but it was too small, so government most come and expand it, even if it will touch some houses, we shall not mind”.
“Whenever the water comes, would not sleep because the water can reach up to a chest of a man. It destroys properties worth millions of naira , adding that it was only during Ahmed Mu’azu’s regime that government assisted us . But now our population has increased and if government can expand the culvert along major roads it will reduce the problems , because the water comes from Fadaman Mada, Unguwar Abuja and Karofi, passing through our area”.
SEMA Chairman in Bauchi, Alhaji Mohammed Inuwa Bello, following a visit to affected areas said, “Farmlands and houses worth N76m were destroyed and the worst affected areas are Bauchi town and outskirts, other areas are Alkaleri , Zaki and Bogoro LGAs of the state.
Despite the prediction by NIMET that Niger State will be among the states that will experience floods during this year’s raining season, the state is yet to record any incidence of flooding.
Head of Relief and Rehabilitation of Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NISEMA) , Garba Salihu said despite this cheering news, and apart from few negligible isolated cases in Mokwa, Lapai and Bargu his agency did not rest on its oars as it has intensified efforts on sensitization.
According to him, part of the aggressive sensitization carried out by his agency was the quick identification of safe places that are at the neighborhood of the vulnerable communities, saying already the nearest health facilities and primary schools had since been identified for the people of such communities.
In Kogi state though the floods are yet to come, but government has taken precautionary measures in view of the prediction of another severe flooding across the country.
Although, water level has not risen to the level it was last year by this time, deputy governor Yomi Awoniyi said the state government is not leaving anything to chance in its efforts to avoid a repeat of last year’s experience.
He said the state has been carrying out sensitization across the state, especially, the nine affected LGAs by consistently calling on those living in flood prone areas to move to higher grounds, while boats and life jackets have been procured for safety during evacuation.
He also said the state government has commenced opening of blocked drainages and waterways so as to ensure free flow of water to the river.
“Unlike last year, when the state had 200 camps, government has now identified 16 camps to be used as re settlement centers for flood victims.”
One of the residents at Gadumo who identified himself as Ibrahim Adejoh said though they were asked to relocate from the area, but they have no any other place to go hence they are waiting , while monitoring the water level.
Last year flood victims claimed that the treatment given to them in and outside camp was not impressive, but the government said the victims were fairly treated as some had to resort to selling the raw food stuff given to them to make ends meet.
The victims said they were given between N3,000 and N4,000 which according to them was not enough, but the state government said it was just an assistance.
Meanwhile, during 2012 flood, about 623,690 persons were displaced, property worth N40 billion, 61,775 houses were washed away while 304,775 hectares of farmland were equally washed away.
In Jigawa about thirteen villages spread across seven LGAs have been sacked by flood and ice storm, according to the SEMA . The executive secretary of SEMA, Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim Waziri, told Weekly Trust that the flood which started in some LGAs last week has rendered hundreds of people homeless and destroyed farm lands and houses.
“ Apart from the flood which affected villages in Hadeijia, Gumel, Ringim, Sule – Tankarkar, Kiyawa and Gagarawa, Baubura and Taura LGAS, we also experienced for the first time, ice storms in Guntam village in Gwiwa LGA, which destroyed farmlands. Information available to us shows that hundreds of houses have been destroyed while a lot of people have been displaced so far”.
“ My agency has already commenced the distribution of relief materials while the state government flood committee headed by the deputy governor has also swung into action in the affected communities”, he added.
Fourteen LGAs in Kano State were badly affected by the flood which killed one person and displaced 1, 489 persons across the state, authorities confirmed.
A torrential rainfall which lasted five hours washed away the remains of a graveyard which has been used by the community for about 27 years, thus exhuming corpses.
Chairman of `Yankaba Youth Development Association, Rabi’u Ado said the remains of 35 people were recovered and that the contents of many other graves were washed away.
“The flood first brought down the fence of the cemetery before washing away the contents of graves”, he said
At Tinshama Quarters in Hotoron Arewa of Nassarawa LGA, over 15 houses were destroyed displacing no less than 30 households.
According to some affected residents of the area, the heavy rain started at about 1:47pm and lasted for almost six hours. Malam Iro Dan Musa, a resident told Weekly Trust that his house was damaged as a result of the heavy downpour, leaving him with no option than to relocate in order to save his life and properties .
Many believe that the way out is to remove such illegal structures erected on waterways
When contacted, the Director Operation of Kano State Emergency Agency, Mallam Abdullahi Aminu Minjibir said apart from the graveyard that was affected by the flood, a total of 471 houses were destroyed during the heavy rain.
“One person died, four others are missing and a total of 1, 489 persons have been displaced, as a result of the flood that occurred in the state last Friday. A total of 14 LGAs areas were affected in the state. Six of the LGAs are in the state metropolis while the remaining eight are on the outskirt,” he said.
He however said his agency is partnering with NEMA on the plight of the affected persons.
While urging the people of the state to clear drainages and waterways in their areas, he said the state government has set up a committee to enlighten people on the dangers inherent in blocking drainages.
Weekly Trust investigations avail that with no alternatives abodes for settlement, many of the victims go back to inhabit the same abodes flooding pushed them out, as soon as the water recedes.
The plight of victims finds illustration in the pungent and repeated calls by Sokoto State, governor Aliyu Wamakko for people living in flood prone areas to vacate such places in order to avoid any ugly occurrence. But these calls are hardly obeyed in most states where people are in this dilemma, as there are no signs of relocation to safer areas by majority of people.
“We have nowhere to move to,” Sulaiman, one of those living in a flood prone area in Sokoto stated, adding that though they were seriously affected by flood last year, but have no alternative areas to relocate .
Similarly, in the Nassarawa Gidan Igwe area of the state, a high risk flood area, visible signs of the previous flood problems are still manifest. But the residents go about their normal business, as if everything has normalized and more to it, new structures are springing up in the area.
The inhabitants added, “as long as we don’t have a choice, we will remain here. We will only run to our neighbours if the flood comes and when it goes, we shall come back. But if we get safer places, we are ever ready to vacate because we wouldn’t want to face the devastating flood problem, the government should assist poor ones like us. We don’t have anywhere to go”.
A youth leader in the area, Murtala appealed for government’s intervention saying it’s hard for a poor man to vacate his place when he does not have an alternative. He added that those with families , more than a wife, with many children are hit hardest by this problem of relocation.
But Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Jabbo Kilgori said there are provisions for people in most of the flood prone areas, to move to higher ground level lands, which he said was provided by the local governments for affected people to relocate.
He described the Nassarawa Gidan Igwe as a very dangerous area in terms of flood disasters.
“These people are not really supposed to be there. That place is supposed to be farm land and not residential area. It is an encroachment they have done into the riverine areas and I think the Sokoto North local government and Wamakko are doing something on that”, he stated.
“We heard the announcement over the radio that people living in flood prone areas should relocate, but we don’t know where to go to. If government can assist us to move to another environment, we would gladly relocate,” the inhabitants stated.
Same agonies over flood have been the lot of some LGAs in Katsina state. So far, the five LGAs of Kankia, Charanchi, Mashi, Daura and Zango have been severely affected by flood.
Though, no life was lost, but dozens were rendered homeless, scores of domestic animals killed and crops as well as household items worth millions of naira were destroyed by the disaster.
Like previous disasters, this year’s flooding in Katsina happened following heavy down pours experienced in the state weeks back. Weekly Trust gathered that the disaster has wrecked havoc on some communities in the five affected local governments.
In Charanchi LGA for instance, the entire village of Gadar-Yantuluna was sacked by the flood spearing only a community mosque in the village. Victims of the disaster, who took refuge at four classrooms block of a primary school in a near-by village of Kartaka, said the flood has destroyed properties worth millions of naira.
They expressed fear for outbreak of diseases due to overcrowding the makeshift camps, as they alleged that they were creamed together in a four classroom block at the camp. One of them, Sabi’u Mai-unguwa said “Virtually all our houses were affected by the flood. The structure that was spared by the flood was the village mosque; its structure, roofing and windows were all intact.”
The Transition Management Committee Chairman of Charanchi council, Yahaya Galadima who led other officials of the council to the village on an assessment visit, said the council had concluded arrangements to relocate the community to another place.
Galadima said the council has also provided relief materials which included foodstuff, mat and drugs to the victims assuring that the ‘council would sustain constant supply of food, water and clothing to the affected victims.”
In Zango local government, Weekly Trust gathered that 580 houses have been destroyed and crops worth millions of naira washed away by the flood.
Even last year, 18 out of the 34 LGAs of the state were affected by the disaster and seven persons confirmed killed by it in Safana, Mai’Adua, Kurfi and Mani LGAs.
However, victims of this year’s flood disaster in the state have so far received donation of relief materials from the National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA). The agency’s Director-General, Alhaji Muhammad Sani Sidi last week, donated relief items worth millions of naira to the victims.
However, Benue state seems to be lucky this year as they have so far not recorded any incident of recent floods. Regardless of this seeming blessing, the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) says it is ready to combat the tides if it changes, especially with over 36,000 persons displaced in more than five LGAs of the state which included; Makurdi, Agatu, Gwer-west, Logo and Kastina-ala respectively in last year’s flooding .
The state government said it is not leaving anything to chance against the background of last year’s floods which caused unprecedented economic losses and human sufferings to people in the state.
SEMA’s executive secretary, Adikpo Agbatse disclosed that a minimum of 6,000 farmers were affected to the extent that the incurred loses worth N1.6 billion. Besides, over N19 billion damages were reportedly lost to the flood last year.
He explained that 12 local government areas have already been mapped as flood disaster prone areas and likely to experience heavy flooding this year too, if nothing is done at all.
Meanwhile, in Bauchi, SEMA confirmed that a nine –year old girl and three women were killed by floods.
A resident of Bauchi Metropolis, Hajiya Aishatu Mohammed Shekal said it’s a problem they have faced for more than two decades. “We have drainage, but it was too small, so government most come and expand it, even if it will touch some houses, we shall not mind”.
“Whenever the water comes, would not sleep because the water can reach up to a chest of a man. It destroys properties worth millions of naira , adding that it was only during Ahmed Mu’azu’s regime that government assisted us . But now our population has increased and if government can expand the culvert along major roads it will reduce the problems , because the water comes from Fadaman Mada, Unguwar Abuja and Karofi, passing through our area”.
SEMA Chairman in Bauchi, Alhaji Mohammed Inuwa Bello, following a visit to affected areas said, “Farmlands and houses worth N76m were destroyed and the worst affected areas are Bauchi town and outskirts, other areas are Alkaleri , Zaki and Bogoro LGAs of the state.
Despite the prediction by NIMET that Niger State will be among the states that will experience floods during this year’s raining season, the state is yet to record any incidence of flooding.
Head of Relief and Rehabilitation of Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NISEMA) , Garba Salihu said despite this cheering news, and apart from few negligible isolated cases in Mokwa, Lapai and Bargu his agency did not rest on its oars as it has intensified efforts on sensitization.
According to him, part of the aggressive sensitization carried out by his agency was the quick identification of safe places that are at the neighborhood of the vulnerable communities, saying already the nearest health facilities and primary schools had since been identified for the people of such communities.
In Kogi state though the floods are yet to come, but government has taken precautionary measures in view of the prediction of another severe flooding across the country.
Although, water level has not risen to the level it was last year by this time, deputy governor Yomi Awoniyi said the state government is not leaving anything to chance in its efforts to avoid a repeat of last year’s experience.
He said the state has been carrying out sensitization across the state, especially, the nine affected LGAs by consistently calling on those living in flood prone areas to move to higher grounds, while boats and life jackets have been procured for safety during evacuation.
He also said the state government has commenced opening of blocked drainages and waterways so as to ensure free flow of water to the river.
“Unlike last year, when the state had 200 camps, government has now identified 16 camps to be used as re settlement centers for flood victims.”
One of the residents at Gadumo who identified himself as Ibrahim Adejoh said though they were asked to relocate from the area, but they have no any other place to go hence they are waiting , while monitoring the water level.
Last year flood victims claimed that the treatment given to them in and outside camp was not impressive, but the government said the victims were fairly treated as some had to resort to selling the raw food stuff given to them to make ends meet.
The victims said they were given between N3,000 and N4,000 which according to them was not enough, but the state government said it was just an assistance.
Meanwhile, during 2012 flood, about 623,690 persons were displaced, property worth N40 billion, 61,775 houses were washed away while 304,775 hectares of farmland were equally washed away.
In Jigawa about thirteen villages spread across seven LGAs have been sacked by flood and ice storm, according to the SEMA . The executive secretary of SEMA, Alhaji Aliyu Ibrahim Waziri, told Weekly Trust that the flood which started in some LGAs last week has rendered hundreds of people homeless and destroyed farm lands and houses.
“ Apart from the flood which affected villages in Hadeijia, Gumel, Ringim, Sule – Tankarkar, Kiyawa and Gagarawa, Baubura and Taura LGAS, we also experienced for the first time, ice storms in Guntam village in Gwiwa LGA, which destroyed farmlands. Information available to us shows that hundreds of houses have been destroyed while a lot of people have been displaced so far”.
“ My agency has already commenced the distribution of relief materials while the state government flood committee headed by the deputy governor has also swung into action in the affected communities”, he added.
Fourteen LGAs in Kano State were badly affected by the flood which killed one person and displaced 1, 489 persons across the state, authorities confirmed.
A torrential rainfall which lasted five hours washed away the remains of a graveyard which has been used by the community for about 27 years, thus exhuming corpses.
Chairman of `Yankaba Youth Development Association, Rabi’u Ado said the remains of 35 people were recovered and that the contents of many other graves were washed away.
“The flood first brought down the fence of the cemetery before washing away the contents of graves”, he said
At Tinshama Quarters in Hotoron Arewa of Nassarawa LGA, over 15 houses were destroyed displacing no less than 30 households.
According to some affected residents of the area, the heavy rain started at about 1:47pm and lasted for almost six hours. Malam Iro Dan Musa, a resident told Weekly Trust that his house was damaged as a result of the heavy downpour, leaving him with no option than to relocate in order to save his life and properties .
Many believe that the way out is to remove such illegal structures erected on waterways
When contacted, the Director Operation of Kano State Emergency Agency, Mallam Abdullahi Aminu Minjibir said apart from the graveyard that was affected by the flood, a total of 471 houses were destroyed during the heavy rain.
“One person died, four others are missing and a total of 1, 489 persons have been displaced, as a result of the flood that occurred in the state last Friday. A total of 14 LGAs areas were affected in the state. Six of the LGAs are in the state metropolis while the remaining eight are on the outskirt,” he said.
He however said his agency is partnering with NEMA on the plight of the affected persons.
While urging the people of the state to clear drainages and waterways in their areas, he said the state government has set up a committee to enlighten people on the dangers inherent in blocking drainages.
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