Ganaja community recommends 11 points demands for flood resilience in Kogi,
*Heinrich Boll Stiftung, Artic infrastructures hold validation workshop in Lokoja.
The Ganaja community in Ajaokuta Local Government Council at the outskirts of Lokoja, capital of Kogi state, has identified 12 points as charter of demand for flood resilience Action plan in the state.
The community stakeholders gave the charter of demand at a validation workshop for Ganaja Charter of Demand and Flood Resilience Action Plan organized by Heinrich Boll Stiftung and Artic infrastructures held on March 19, 2025.
The workshop objectives is to build flood resilience and mitigation in Ganaja Community as a pilot after the devastation of perennial flooding since 2012
The validation workshop had in attendance the following Ministry’s; Finance, Budget and Economic Planning; Environment, Lands and Ecological Management.
Others in attendance are the Ministry of Health, State Universal Education Board, Kogi State Town Planning Board, Civil Society Organizations and the Ganaja Community.
In his contribution, the Permanent Secretary, Kogi State Ministry of Finance Budget and Economic planning, Sanni Haruna Muhammad, assures of the State Government responsiveness to issues of flood and her commitment to the Ganaja charter of Demand.
In his response the Anaja Garko of Ganaja, HRH, Muhammad Abubakar, appreciated Arctic Infrastructure for the painstaking efforts in coming up with a charter of demand.
Hannah Balogun – Adebiyi, Deputy Head of Project, Arctic Infrastructure said the workshop is geared towards validating the outcome of engagement and meetings with the Ganaja Community.
The workshop had a presentation on the Charter of Demand and flood resilience action plan by Heinrich Böll Foundation and Arctic Infrastructure officials,
leading to questions and answer session arising from the presentation.
The workshop also broke into groups of 4, discussed the;
(1) Relocation of the PHC
(2) Redevelopment of Yamayama road
(3) Establishment of water points
(4) Rehabilitation and expansion of IDP camps.
The workshop had a panel discussion made up of the Ministry of Health, Ganaja Community, Lands and SUBEB.
Meanwhile, the key point contained in the Ganaja Charter of Demand, include: The call for the Dredging of the Rivers Niger and Benue, Construction of Dams along the River’s Niger and Benue, Discourage Buildings on Water ways; call for attitudinal change by citizens to adhere to building codes along flood plains.
Similarly, appeal for political will by government to ensure relocation of people living along flood plains, Completion of ongoing embarkment along Kabawa -Ganaja village.
Other demand are the need to Embark on tree planting to help in flood control, The need to open up alternative roads from Nyamanyama through 500 units and from Wada road to Zone 8 roundabout as well as Complete the construction of abandoned Wada road.
Furthermore, the community requested the building of more Internally Displaced Persons camps to accommodate flood affected persons and Call for the relocation of the Primary Health Care planned for a new location from the Ganaja primary School.
The Permanent Secretary and all the participants, hinted that, the planned location identified by the Community for the new PHC was discovered to also be located in flood prone area.
