Save Us From Losing More Lives To Flood, Nasarawa Monarch Begs Govt

Amid warnings of intense rainfall and severe flooding by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) in the coming days, a village head in Nasarawa State, Malam Dogara Muhammad, has solicited the intervention of both state and federal governments to avert loss of life and property to the menace.

Speaking to LEADERSHIP, Muhammad, the village head of Kwanka on the outskirts of Lafia, the state capital, said the community has been at the receiving end of the yearly flooding with consequent loss of life and property.

Muhammad revealed that three of his subjects lost their lives to flooding three years ago following days of intense rain downpour, even as he disclosed that a number of houses were washed away with many displaced.

The village head who said that they learnt about the recent NiMet prediction through the radio, said, “We don’t want to lose more lives to flood,” stressing that the community is yet to get over the tragedy which befell it three years earlier.

He pointed out that the yearly flood has left gullies across the community which makes it more vulnerable, putting the lives of many at risk.

“Two heavy downpours are enough to cause colossal damage as we enter the season, and the prediction has heighten our fears. This is why we are calling on both the state and federal government for intervention,” he stated.

Two members of the community, Mr Yamusa Luka and Mr Samuel Allu, re-echoed the village head’s fears and calls for intervention, stressing that the community has been engaging in self-help to mitigate the flood impact each season.

LEADERSHIP reports that flood had claimed one life, and destroyed over 300 farmlands as well as crops across three local government areas of the state last year.

NiMet in its recent advisory included Nasarawa among the states that may experience flash flooding in the coming days due to expected heavy early rains.

It explained that the flooding risk is heightened because dry, hardened soils will prevent water from penetrating the ground, leading to increased surface runoff.

The state office of the agency told our correspondent that appropriate offices, traditional and community leaders have been alerted of the impending danger, while calling for proactive measures to tackle the menace.

On behalf of the agency, a meteorologist, Mr Oligo Peter Samson, noted that early warnings and other proactive measures, especially in flood-prone areas is key to averting the inherent danger the yearly flooding posed to communities.

The commissioner for Environment and Natural and Natural Resources in the state, Princess Margaret Elayo, said the state government is working round-the clock to avert a flood disaster long before the NiMet alert.

She disclosed that state officials, traditional rulers, community leaders, youth and women groups have been put on red alert across the five local government areas designated as the red zone, especially because of their closeness to the River Benue and its tributaries.

She gave the names of the affected local government areas to include Doma, Nasarawa, Toto, Awe, and Lafia respectively