The Kogi State Government has established 42 Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps across 8 Local Government Areas with 9 flood-prone communities as a proactive measure towards mitigating the flood impact in the wet season.
The State Commissioner for Environment and Ecological Management, Joseph Oluwasegun, who announced this during a meeting with stakeholders, further noted that
250,000 people spread across nine communities in the state are at risk of being displaced in the event of flood this year.
The Kogi State Commissioner for Environment and Ecological Management said the meeting was essentially to tidy up preparations to mitigate the impact of flooding after the 2024 flood prediction by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET).
He therefore called for action following rise in water levels of the Rivers Niger and Benue and a unified response to the impending flood threat, highlighting the need for seamless collaboration among stakeholders.
The Executive Secretary, Kogi State Emergency Management Agency (KOSEMA), Mouktar Atimah, noted that an Emergency Operation Center would be established to facilitate effective coordination and response to the flood situation.
There was consensus among participants on the need to intensify public sensitization in order to ensure that flood prone communities are adequately informed and relocated on-time to alleviate hardships of water flooding .
(Editor: Anoyoyo Ogiagboviogie)
