Flooding in 34 States: Centre Makes Key Demands from State Agencies, Others
- A fresh report on the activities of the National Emergency Management Agency river the flooding in various states has been released
- The report was released by the Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-economic Rights on Tuesday, October 25
- The Centre in its report also called for the dredging of the two major rivers in Nigeria to curtail the overflowing of the banks
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Following the recent rampaging flooding across Nigeria, the Centre for Africa Liberation and Socio-economic Rights (CALSER) has said that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has lived up to expectations.
The Centre, which made this known at a world press conference in Abuja today, said its Human Rights and Disaster Management team carried out an extensive analysis of responses and interventions to the natural disaster in the country.
Source: Original
In its assessment report, the executive director of CALSER, Cecilia Ikechukwu admitted that NEMA has risen to the occasion with critical relief for Nigerians in distress.
Ikechukwu noted that the interventionist agency donated over 400 trailer loads of relief materials to the 36 states and Federal Capital Territory to cushion the effect of the flooding.
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Her words:
"The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) swung into action to alleviate the suffering of victims of the flood.
"They distributed relief materials worth millions of naira to support persons affected across the different states.
"The items included the president’s special intervention involving the release of assorted grains from silos."
Continuing, the executive director of CALSER noted that NEMA distributed relief materials, an equivalent of 400 trailer loads of grains to all states of the federation and the FCT.
Some of the efforts by NEMA to flood victims
This, according to Ikechukwu is a statement of fact and has been verified by CALSER's independent assessors.
She added:
"In Ondo state for example 2,100 bags of 50kg maize; 1,774 bags of 50kg sorghum; 3,948 bags of 25kg garri; 1,000 bags of 10kg rice; 1,000 bags of 10kg beans; 1,000 bags of 10kg maize; 75 bags of 20kg salt; 75 kegs of vegetable oil (20ltrs); 150 cartons of seasoning cubes and 75 cartons of tin tomato.
"The non-food items comprised 7,350 pieces of nylon mats; 1,000 pieces of treated mosquito nets; 600 cartons of bath soap; 2,500 pieces of guinea brocade (5 yards); 1,000 pieces of children’s clothing; 1,000 pieces of women’s wear and 1,000 pieces of men’s wear."
Further speaking, Ikechukwu said CALSER also acknowledged the assistance of International groups such as the US Agency for International Development (USAID) which provided $1 million in immediate humanitarian assistance to support the people affected by the unprecedented flooding.
The Centre, therefore, appealed to the State Emergency Management Agencies to imbibe the spirit of transparency and accountability in the discharge of their duties towards ensuring that citizens affected by this are properly taken care of.
The way forward against further incidents of flooding
To avert a future reoccurrence, CALSER, however, advised both the state and federal governments to build canals and dams to help in controlling the water levels, especially in Adamawa and Benue, to contain the water released from Ladgo Dam in Cameroon.
She said:
"Dredging of the major rivers to allow for easy passage of water. Improved drainage of waterways to avoid obstructions."
A climate change expert, Philip Onyiulo told Legit.ng that Nigerians are currently suffering due to the government's inactions.
Onyiulo noted that the major outbreak of flooding in key states like Kogi state was in 2012. Since then nothing serious has been done the address the situation and ensure it does not occur to this extent again.
His words:
"There was a flooding of high momentum in 2012 in Kogi and people were displaced from their homes, we even recorded deaths. Since then we've been having issues with flooding and there seems to be no solution in sight.
"The question is, ist the Nigerian government even aware of the sufferings of the people do they care about possible solutions, or is this how people are going to continue living their lives?
"When it is the dry season they come back home and at the onset of the rains they leave their homes for the rising waters."
As flood ravages 34 states in Nigeria, UNICEF gives details of children affected, way forward
The flooding ravaging states in Nigeria has continued to leave many including children in extremely vulnerable situations.
Children affected by floods are said to be at high risk of being drowned or contracting waterborne diseases.
To address the situation, UNICEF has called for increased funding channelled towards interventions that would meet the immediate needs of children and other vulnerable groups.
United States Promises $1 million for Nigeria’s flood victims, fears surge of waterborne diseases
The US government had promised $1 million in humanitarian assistance to Nigerians affected by unprecedented flooding.
The support will provide emergency shelter assistance, relief commodities, and hygiene kits to promote safe and healthy practices amongst other benefits.
"We are also concerned that standing floodwaters could increase the risk of cholera and other waterborne diseases in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states," Leonard said.
Source: Legit.ng
