Flooding: Stakeholders Task FG on Dredging, building Dams as Kogi Govt. Assures Huge investment to mitigate effect.
ATABOR JULIUS LOKOJA.
Against the predictions by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency NIMET that some states would be affected by flooding this year, stakeholders in the control of floods in Kogi state, have called on the Federal Government to urgently commence the dredging , construction and reactivation of existing dams on the Rivers of Niger and Benue to absorb released waters from Neighbouring countries .
This is just as the kogi state government has assured residents of its huge investments that will withstand flood impact and improving emergency response capabilities.
This was the summation of Opinions generated from stakeholders’ workshop on Emergency Management and flood Preparedness organised by Kogi state Emergency Management Agency SEMA in Conjunction with National Emergency Management Agency NEMAa held on Tuesday in Lokoja, the state capital.
The state Deputy Governor, Joel Salifu Oyibo, who is also the Chairman , Emergency Management Agency expressed concern on critical issues that affects the wellbeing of the people and communities across the state.
He said the location of the state which houses the two major rivers in the country- Niger and Benue made the state vulnerable to flooding which poses significant threats to lives and ecosystem.
The Deputy Governor disclosed that his principal, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo has been strengthening emergency management systems in order to effectively respond to early warning signals.
He called on stakeholders in the flood emergency chain to foster inter agency collaboration and synergy in a bid to ensure seamless community engagement, public awareness and to build resilience of the people.
According to him, ” Kogi is investing heavily in early warning systems to ensure timely alerts and effective communication channels. We are enhancing our infrastructure to withstand flood impacts.We need the active participation and support of all stakeholders to bring their expertise, resources and dedication to the table and work together to safeguard our state” He appeal.
Meanwhile, the Executive Secretary of State Emergency Management Agency, Hon . Mouktar Atima commended the participants for their doggedness and commitment to ensure that flooding should have minimal negative impact on the livelihood of the people of the state
Atima noted that the state has faced significant challenges in recent years due to flooding and other natural disasters.
He added that the events have not only affected the lives and livelihoods of the citizens but have also highlighted the need for a more robust and coordinated approach to disaster preparedness and response.
He explained that the workshop was put in place to review past incidents, share knowledge, and develop strategies that will help better anticipate, respond to, and recover from future disasters.
According to him” as we proceed with today’s agenda, I encourage open dialogue, active participation, and innovative thinking. Let us work together to build a safer, more resilient Kogi State, where our communities are well-prepared to face the challenges of tomorrow” He solicited.
He, however, charged participants to work out modalities that will guide future actions, assess current state of preparedness ; identify gaps and challenges, fostering collaboration , sharing of best practices and to develop a comprehensive action plan that outlines specific measures and responsibilities to improve disaster management capabilities.
Meanwhile, participants were drawn from the Nigerian Navy, the Police, para military organizations,Traditional institutions, Local Government Councils, relevant ministries, Departments and Agencies.
Recall that the 2024 flood had submerged three local government l areas of Ibaji, Lokoja,kogi kotonkarfe and six others in Kogi which calls for urgent attention by the state government to step up actions against its reoccurrence.
{“capture_mode”:”AutoModule”,”faces”:[“-2395_1038_-2145_1288”]}
