A coalition of Civil Societies on Thursday called on the National and State House of Assembly to begin to speak up about the flood issue and begin re-allocate budget lines to provide life saving assistance to the affected populations.
The coalition which includes ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) , Christian Aid, Plan International and Care International expressed concern over the rising death toll, displacement millions of people across 31 states of the Federation and the FCT as a result of flood disaster ravaging the country.
The Country Director ActionAid Nigeria, Ene Obi during a press conference in Abuja explained that the release of water from Lagdo dam in Cameroon led to serious flooding in Kogi state, with about 60 communities submerged underwater of which 100percent of Ibaji council area of the state is completely submerged leading to the death of 3persons and displacement of 50,000 persons.
She also noted that other states including Anambra , Jigawa, Kebbi and Bayelsa states have also recorded varied number of deaths arising from the flood while Kano, Kaduna, Niger, Benue, Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi, Yobe, Edo, Delta, Lagos, Ogun, Ekiti and Plateau are also badly hit.
Ene Obi further raised concern that the floods are coming amidst concerns that 19.4 million Nigerians across 21 States and FCT could face food insecurity starting from August 2022 as revealed by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, in addition, the World Bank’s forecasts 95.1million Nigerians hitting the poverty line by the end of 2022.
In her words, “With thirty-one States and the FCT affected by the flood, it is time for Government at all levels (federal, state and LGA) to explore sustainable ways to curb the perennial flooding that some states are increasingly experiencing during the rainy season, as repeat of this in 2023 when households, Farmers and States would still be in recovery process could be catastrophic as this would heighten pre-existing food insecurity, poverty”.
