The Kogi state government has assured that a proactive measures have been put in place to mitigate the 2024 impending flood as predicted by Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet).
The deputy governor of the state and chairman of Kogi State Emergency Management Agency (KOSEMA), Joel Oyibo Salifu, Tuesday stated this during a stakeholders workshop on emergency management and flood preparedness organised by KOSEMA in collaboration with NEMA, held at Edge drive hotel in Lokoja.
He said the perennial flooding since 2012 has posed threat to nine local government areas, adding that it is high time for stakeholders to come together and develop a proactive strategy for the purpose of mitigating flood disasters in the state.
“We will continue to invest in early warning to sensitise and enlighten the people, especially citizens living and dwelling along riverine areas,” he said.
While noting that government alone cannot effectively address the challenges posed by flood disaster in Kogi state, the deputy governor urged stakeholders to support government in tackling the effects of flood in the state.
The Ohimege-Igu of Koton-Karfe, Salihu Akawu Saidu, urged SEMA to take the flood sensitisation and enlightenment to the grassroots in the language the people could understand.
While commending SEMA for organising the stakeholders meeting, the royal father solicited for closer synergy among agencies in charge of flood disaster.
Earlier, the executive secretary, SEMA, Alhaji Mouktar Atimah, in his welcome address, said the objectives of the stakeholders meeting was to strengthen synergy and cooperation among stakeholders in preparedness to anticipated 2024 flood and to identify the needed support to enhance 2024 flood response.
He said between April and May, 2024, over 1000 households were affected by wind and rain storm in three local government areas, assuring that the agency would continue to do its best in managing disasters in the state.
“The agency would on its part continue to intensify efforts in mitigating the predicted flooding and sensitising the general public. The state government has done a lot in saving life and property of its citizens and protecting the vulnerable,” he said.
Atimah urged all the stakeholders to take issues of flood prediction by NiMET serious in order to reduce to the nearest minimum in terms of death and loss of property.