- As Flood Submerges 634 Communities, Others
the National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC) has called on the Federal government to declare a state of emergency on flood-ravaged states to reduce its impact.
The Managing Director of HYPPADEC, Alh. Abubakar Yelwa, made the call during a press conference, yesterday, in Minna.
He said that 80 per cent of the states worst hit 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 state governments efforts to ensure food security and wealth creation in the country. (NAN)
