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An ICIR Report By 'Kunle ADEBAJO  “We have not seen flooding like it occurred this year,” said most victims of the recent flooding incident in the North-central part of Nigeria. The disaster is reported to have afflicted hundreds of thousands of Nigerians across different states, leaving many dead and many more displaced. For four days, The ICIR‘s ‘Kunle ADEBAJO visited  Niger and Kogi states including the FCT, some of the worst-hit areas, to feel the pulse of the direct victims. In this two-part report, he shares how what is seen as an act of God coupled with the actions and inaction of government has driven various communities to starvation, homelessness and despair. AT past three in the afternoon, after observing the Moslem Friday prayer, Shuaibu Sidi Alli rides through a vast expanse of farmland on his old, black Jincheng bike. The narrow, sometimes bushy, path leads to his village, Adabode,  one of the over 60 communities affected by flood in Kogi Local Government...

The Kogi Government on Tuesday donated foodstuffs and other relief materials to flood victims in Ajaokuta Local Government Area of the state. Speaking to newsmen at the distribution centre in Ajaokuta, Mr Sanusi Yahaya, the state Coordinator, Emergency Operation Centre (EOC), said that the items were meant to alleviate the suffering of the flood victims. Represented by Mrs Dorcas Enehe, the Director, Climate Change in the ministry, Yahaya said that the items would be distributed to the flood victims in all the affected local governments across the state. Yahaya, who doubles as the state Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, reiterated the commitment of the Gov. Yahaya Bello’ Administration to meeting the needs of internally displaced persons and victims of the 2018 flood disaster in Kogi. “We were in Bassa LGA last week to distribute items to victims under Bassa Nge District in Shintaku, and today, we are here in Ajaokuta to do same for Geregu, Native Town and Niger...

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Tuesday warned residents displaced by the recent flood disaster in Kogi against returning to their homes. The NEMA Head of Operations in charge of Abuja and Kogi, Mr Bitrus Samuel, who gave the warning in Lokoja, said it was too early for residents to return to their homes, although the water had started receding. He said that the water level in the River Niger stood at 10.76 centimetres as at Oct. 2, noting that NEMA would advise appropriately on when it would be safe for people to return to their houses. Samuel disclosed also that people in Internally Displaced Camps (IDPs) were being provided with foods and drugs regularly, saying that the agency had just taken delivery of new consignment of drugs and medicines. According to him, outbreak of epidemic has not been reported in any of the camps, due to the prevailing high level of hygiene being maintained by state and Federal Governments officials. (NAN)

Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo has promised victims of the flood disaster that the Federal Government will ensure that they are well taken care of, even as it continues to make efforts to tackle the menace. He made the promise on Monday when he visited an Internally Displaced Persons Camp in Koton Karfe, Kogi State, created for the flood victims. The Vice President stated that once the flood waters recede, the government will do its best to compensate all those who have lost property and farmlands. He said, “It is the intention of the Federal Government, working with the state government to ensure that when the flood waters recede, we are able to offer some rehabilitation and some comfort in whatever way possible to those who have lost their farmlands and those who have lost their homes. “This is only the first stage. I am here to look at what has gone wrong. “A lot of farm and property are under water but after this period when the water recedes, that is when the hard...

Motorists and commuters travelling from Lokoja towards the South East/South South parts of the country were yesterday stranded for hours following the flooding of some portions of the Ajaokuta-Lokoja highway. Reports state that the River Niger overflowed its bank onto the busy Ajaokuta-Lokoja highway around Ganaja Village axis, thus causing heavy traffic. Our correspondent reports that men of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and those of the Nigerian Police were on ground to control the ensuing chaotic traffic situation. It was observed that youths in the area were making a brisk business from the situation by helping motorists whose vehicles got stuck to wade through the flood. Credit: The Nigerian Voice

The Kogi State Government says the state has lost of 100 billion Naira to the unfortunate flood ravaging some parts of the Confluence State. Addressing newsmen in Lokoja, Thursday, the Director General of Media and Publicity to the Governor says over 200 communities have been submerged in the State. He said the Governor had briefed the President of the unfortunate situation. “Kogi State Government has been rattled by the degree of flooding that has submerged over 200 communities and rendered about a million people homeless in the state. “As a Government, a lot has been done to ameliorate the dastardly effect of the menace. Federal Agencies are also working hard to help us out of our seemingly perilous situation. “Government will never express hopelessness as it is the bastion of hope for the victims. But we are stretched and wish to thank the Federal Government for its intervention so far. “Governor Yahaya Bello will want to express profound gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhar...