Flooding: Over 3000 Communities In Niger In Danger

From Saka Bolaji Minna

Over 3000 communities will be in danger of being swept away by flood in Niger state any moment the Republic of Niger released water from its dam, the Niger state Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) has warned.

Director General of the Agency, Alhaji Ahmed Ibrahim Inga, stated this at the weekend while speaking with journalists on the recent warning given by the management of Niger Republic dam on the imminent release of water and the devastating effect such would have in parts of Niger state.

He said that the opening of the dam by Niger Republic will result in black flood in Nigeria, adding that “Niger state will be worse hit by such flood which is more dangerous because its victims do not expect it but it comes silently”.

He said that the black flood expected to ravage 16 local governments of the state including Bida and Lapai emirates, will increase the pains and hardship of over 5,000 people already displaced by natural floods resulting from rains that had begun to ravage the state.

According to him, not less than six persons have been lost to the natural flood disaster that had swept across 300 communities in the past few days.

He said, “We have begun intensive sensitisation of our people to limit water based activities and move upland. We have identified higher land and we are using community leaders to prevail on the people to move out of water ways”.

Inga stressed the urgent need for communities on the plane of River Niger and River Kaduna to start moving upland to minimize damages and avoid further lost of lives during the flooding period.

He caution the people of Nupeko area where rivers Niger and Kaduna confluence to be vigilant and keep constant eyes on rising waters while fishing, adding that 66 communities of Mokwa local government and 55 others in Lavun local government have submerged in water.

He said that fishermen and farmers have been warned to keep off the rivers as from 4pm everyday because it is generally believed that the rivers began to swell in the evenings and at night.