Residents of riverine communities shun flood alert

Residents of the flood-prone areas in 12 states across the country have ignored warnings from the relevant Federal Government agencies to relocate their families to safer areas to avoid an impending major flood disaster any moment from now.

Last week, NEMA announced that flood alerts received from the Republic of Niger on the rise in the water level of its river has shown that Nigeria may suffer severe floods that can be compared to what was experienced in many states in 2012.

But the  people, especially farmers and fishermen along the River Niger and River Benue, are currently insisting on relocation plans from both the federal and state governments before they could move away from their homes.

In Kwara State, our correspondent observed that residents of riverine communities along the River Niger had yet to relocate to safe haven, despite the advice and safety advocacies from agencies of both the federal and state governments.

The affected flood prone  communities in Ilorin areas near Asa River such as  Oboh Road, Taiwo-Isale, Opomalu areas, Harmony Estate, Akerebiata and  some areas in Sobi.

Other places include many communities in Edu and Patigi Local Government Areas.

Our correspondent, who visited some of the affected areas on Friday, observed that the concerned residents were still putting up in their houses despite repeated jingle advice and advocacy by the state government.

It was also observed that some people were still living in  some houses that had been marked for demolition for many months and years.

Sources from Edu and Patigi LGAs also said the residents  in flood prone places had not relocated.

But the Senior Special Assistant to the Kwara State Governor on Media and Communication, Dr. Muyideen Akorede, said Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, had activated measures for advocacy campaigns advising the affected residents to relocate.

He also said the concerned ministry and agency had been visiting the affected areas with a view to making reports to the state government.

Also in Kogi, Benue, Anambra, Enugu and Niger States, our correspondents gathered that the affected residents of riverside areas have completely ignored the alert of the looming flooding.

For instance our correspondent in  Kogi reports that the affected residents still defy the alert claiming that they will never move and leave their belongings behind because of the uncertainty that await them wherever they would relocate to.

Kogi was among the 12 states placed on flood red alert notices and the Deputy Governor, Simon Achuba, warned residents living in the flood prone- areas to relocate to the safer areas to avoid a repeat of the 2012 experience.

The deputy governor, said residents of nine local government councils including  Ibaji, Idah, Lokoja, Bassa, Kogi,  Koton karfe, ofu, Igalamela and Ajaokuta, could be victims of the impending disaster.

Ahmed Abdulah, who is  a trader in raw food stuff at Pata Market in Lokoja, said it was not possible to relocate anywhere different from his home.

Besides, he said, government has not provided alternative place for him to so his business

However,the the Executive Secretary of the Kogi State Emergency Management Agency, Yusuf Alhassan, told our correspondent that the residents were only advised to relocate back to their villages which were mostly in the upland areas.

He said, “For example, those trading or farming in Idah came from other villages which are in the upland, and all that is required of them is to relocate to their villages temporarily pending when the water will recede and they can return to their businesses.

In Benue State, the Commissioner for water resources and environment, Mr. Nick Wende, lamented that residents of the flood-prone areas had refused to relocate despite series of advocates from the government and other relevant agencies of the government.

But officials of NEMA who spoke with our one of our correspondents in Abuja, claimed that communities along river banks have started relocating in order to avoid being swept away by the looming floods caused by the heavy rains and rising river levels.

This, according to the agency, was in response to the several flood alerts issued by it as well as warnings from different agencies of government.

When contacted on Saturday, the Senior Information Officer, NEMA, Mr. Sani Datti, said, “We have been receiving responses from our zonal offices across the country with respect to the flood alert sent out last week.”

He said, “The responses are that communities in some of these areas have started complying and are actually relocating to safer plains as advised by the agency. Therefore, I can say that the responses have been good so far. We hope more people will also comply as we progress.”