The National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC) has called on the Federal Government to declare state of emergency on flood-ravaged states to reduce its impact.
Alh. Abubakar Yelwa, Managing Director of HYPPADEC, made the call during a press conference on Monday, September 2, 2024, in Minna, Niger State.
He said that 80 per cent of the states worst hits by flood were members of the commission.
The managing director explained that declaration of state of emergency would reposition relevant agencies to be on alert for prompt response.
He maintained that the declaration of emergency had become imperative in view of the effects of flooding already witnessed on critical infrastructure and people’s means of livelihoods in 2024, and the prediction of more flooding to come.
“It is necessary for a declaration of state of emergency on worst hit states, this will reposition relevant stakeholders to remain alert for prompt response,” he said.
Yelwa disclosed that, so far, 634 communities had been affected with more than 30,000 farmlands washed away by flood in Benue, while 6,959 households with 10,000 farmlands were affected with one life lost in Kebbi.
He said that six lives were lost to flooding in Magama and Mashegu Local Government Areas of Niger State.
He also said that the Dadin-Kowa Dam in Gombe was at the verge of collapse thereby posing a serious threat to lives and property.
“There are also similar flood threats in states such as Taraba, Nasarawa, Kogi and Kaduna,” he said.
He said that the situation posed a very serious threat to the ongoing efforts of President Bola Tinubu and states government efforts to ensuring food security and wealth creation in the country.
The managing director also said that three major bridges were washed away on Mayo-Kam Federal highway and Jalingo-Wukari Road in Taraba, as well as Manyara-Sabon-Pegi- Kwatachi in New Bussa, Niger State.
Yelwa added that other critical infrastructures such as culverts and flood drains, schools and health centres have equally been affected across the commission’s areas of operation.
He said the commission had executed flood erosion control projects in its member states such as Kogi, Benue, Kebbi, Kwara and Niger to reduce impact of flooding.
He further disclosed that about 500 flood victim’s resettlement housing schemes were under construction in Niger, Kogi, Kwara and Kebbi states.
Yelwa, however, urged people living along the floodplains to be more vigilant and abide by instructions from relevant authorities to avoid further complications.
By Rita Iliya
