Flood Ravages 20 Niger Local Governments

Niger State Emergency  Management Agency (NSEMA) has issued red alert over the discharge of excess water from the four Hydro Power Dams in the state as flood ravages 20 LGAs.

The director general of NSEMA Abdullahi Baba Arah said yesterday that 20 local government areas have already been devastated by floods, and many have been rendered homeless.

He said those along the River banks should relocate to uplands and designated areas to avoid any fatality.

Regarding the fatalities from the floods in Niger state this year, the NSEMA Director General disclosed that 250 lives have been lost in various floods in four of the 20 flood-ravaged local government areas.

He said the state lost 29 lives in the Borgu flood, 13 in the Shiroro flood, two in the Chanchaga flood, and 206 in the Mokwa flood disaster.

“The Agency’s warning is coming as a result of discharge of  water from Kainji, Shiroro, Zungeru and Jeba hydro Dams located in Niger State” he explained while adding that the dams were releasing thousands of gallons of water per minute that could lead to the overflow of these rivers.

Consequently “the State government  hereby advise  our communities to limit  activities around river banks during this peak rainy season  to avoid being flooded. People living at riverine areas should relocate to safer grounds already identified”.

The  director general said the state was already experiencing negative impact of the flooding with  houses, farm lands,bridges and  linked roads washed away in some areas  located at up and down stream of the four dams .

He said these  has rendered many homeless and has affected the socio-economic activities of the communities.

He listed  the local government  areas to include; Lavun, Magama, Rafi,Kontagora,Gbako,Mokwa,Lapai, Katcha, Agaie, Suleja, Shiroro, Mashegu, Agwara, Bida, Edati, Munya, Bosso, Chanchaga, Paikoro and Wushishi.