The Kebbi State Deputy Governor, Umar Abubakar Tafida-led Committee on Flood Impact Management has been visiting communities ravaged by floods in the state.
Among the areas visited are Bahindi, Kende, and Tuga in Bagudo Local Government Area as part of efforts to mitigate the impact of the impending River Niger flood in Kebbi State.
Speaking in Tuga after visiting the three locations, Umar Tafida explained that the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) had alerted the state of impending flood due to the rising water level of the River Niger from Niger Republic to Nigeria, which would affect Kebbi and other states.
He noted that farm lands from Argungu to Bunza down to Suru and Bagudo had already been submerged by water from the outflow of Shagari Dam in Sokoto State.
The Deputy Governor announced that sub-committees have been constituted for each local government predicted to be affected by the flood to report to the main committee on any cases and to relocate riverine communities where necessary.
Earlier, the Kebbi State Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Muhammad Sama’ila Bagudo and the Chairman of Bagudo Local Government, Sambo Aliyu Zagga informed the Committee that millet and rice farms at Suru down to Bahindi, Kende and Bagudo, had been submerged by floodwaters from the River Rima and River Niger.
Hon. Sama’ila Bagudo emphasized the need for urgent proactive action to prevent future flood occurrences, attributing the current flood to the non-evacuation of Goronyo and Shagari Dams. He appealed to the relevant authorities to ensure the timely drainage of the dams to prevent reoccurrence of flood incidents in the country.
