Over 40, 000 People Affected by Jigawa Flood
Jigawa state governor, Malam Umar Namadi says over 40, 000 people have been affected by the recent flood that swept through the state.
The governor, who made this known on Tuesday in Dutse when he recieved the chairman and members of the House of Representatives Committee on Ecological Fund, added that flood ravaged communities, farms and properties in 14 local government areas in the state.
Namadi said so far, 28 people werr confirmed dead as a result of flood related incidents, including building collapse, drowning and canoe accident.
According to him, 8, 000 people are presently in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps, while the flood led to the collapse of 7,500 houses and washing away of 6,500 farmlands.
“In our previous experience, the flooding normally happened around September ending to early October when some dams release excess water. We don’t usually have floods this early. So far, 14 local government areas are affected,” he added.
Namadi called on the federal government to insist on environmental impacts assessment in it’s road constructions and other projects to avoid artificial environmental problems.
According to him, the Shuwari-Maiduguri federal highway construction has led to flooding in Buji and Kiyawa local government areas, which hitherto were not having flood issues.
He said that the design of the highway was faulty as it has created new environmental problem for communities along the highway.
He called on the committee to go round the state and see for themselves the level of damages and lingering threats to the people.
“Going by the situation, number of lives lost and level of damages, the state is in serious need of special assistances and support from the federal government, national and international agencies and philanthropists.
“The state has no resources to take care and maintain the necessary emergencies for the victims presently.
“So far, we have reached and supported nine affected local government areas with food, and beddings, drinking water, temporary latrines and mosquitoes nets. The remaining local government would be reache between now and tomorrow”, Namadi assured.
Earlier, the chairman of the committee on ecological fund, Honourable Aminu Sani Jaji said they were in the state to assess the level of destruction due to flooding and other ecological problem devastating the state.
“The significance attached to this visit is to identify some areas or some states that would be engaged and benefit from this tour. We selected few states among the 36 states that deserved to have special intervention in the areas of ecological challenges,” Jaji said.
