Kogi SEMA Ready for Flood Mitigation, Opens 42 IDP Camps

From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja

The Kogi State Executive Secretary of Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Mukhtar Atima has disclosed that his agency is fully prepared for mitigation of flood impacts in the state.

Atima who gave the hint when he led his agency’s Emergency Response Team on advocacy visit to the Kogi State’s Commissioner of Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams Adeiza, said that the effort has become necessary as five communities in Ibaji Local Government Area have already been completely submerged by flood.

The Executive Secretary expressed worries over report of rising water level of Rivers Niger and Benue occasioned by full of all water dams likely to be opened any moment from now.

He told the commissioner that SEMA is ready to mitigate this development which was confirmed in a chat with managers of the dams

“As part of the preparations already on ground, SEMA has opened 42 Internally Displaced Persons Camps across eight local government areas of Kogi that are prone to flooding. SEMA has also opened Emergency Operation Centres in riverine communities prone to flooding

“We don’t want loss of lives and property associated with flood disaster and we are therefore, appealing to people living in flood prone areas to move to higher ground

“The role of the Ministry of Health in flood mitigation cannot be over emphasized hence the need for our advocacy visit to the Hon Commissioner for collaboration in providing medical personnel and facilities in the event of the flooding”

Atima further disclosed that 258 communities in nine local government areas along riverine stands chances of being flooded and SEMA is fully prepared to bail the people out of the hazards.

Responding, Kogi State’s Commissioner of Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams Adeiza declared that it is very important to prepare against any form of danger going by the saying that prevention is the best solution to avert the possibility of loss of lives and property.

“My Ministry is ready to partner with SEMA in disaster management in order to safeguard against its impacts on the people” Dr. Adeiza assured.