Niger State Seeks NEMA Intervention To Address Flooding, IDPs

The Niger State government has called for the intervention of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in tackling the humanitarian crisis caused by flood and bandits attacks.

Speaking when he visited the headquarters of NEMA, the deputy governor of Niger State, Yakubu Garba said the Internationally Displaced Persons (IDPs), numbering about 5000 are in need assistance and hence the need for the visitation.

He also said the floods have already started causing havoc in the state and there is the need for NEMA to assist the state in tackling these issues.

According to him, “The essence of visiting the NEMA is a familiarization  and also to acquaint the director general with some emergency situation that has been ravaging Niger State for the past six to seven years.

“Niger State has been been with the issues of security of which I can’t disclose here. Aside that, the weather forecast of this year, there is the adverse consequence of flooding which we have been witnessing in Niger State.

So we are here to brief DG NEMA to know the latitude of this consequences as it affects our people and see how we can collaborate to ameliorate this situation.”

Speaking on the efforts by the state to address these issues, the deputy governor said, “We have begun sensitization to alert our people that this very year flooding may likely be different from the ones we have witnessed and the need for them to leave the affected areas in order to save lives and properties. And this has been ongoing.

“We have about 5,000 to 6,000 IDPs, but God willing we are doing everything humanly possible to ensure the situation is been curtailed.”

Meanwhile, the director-general of NEMA, Mustapha Ahmed has assured the state of the readiness of the agency to assist in addressing the problems.

He said: “First I commend the deputy governor because they understand the architecture of disaster management. They are also doing quite a lot, they are clearing the drainages, water channels and they are also doing something before NEMA comes. So we can see seriousness, the states are becoming more proactive.”

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