By joshua 
2025 FLOOD PREPAREDNESS: KOGI STATE EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY OPERATION CENTRE LOKOJA, MAPS OUT 42 IDP CAMPS
In an effort to mitigate the impact of flood and create enabling environment for proper data collection, information gathering, and effective emergency management, the Kogi State Emergency Management Agency and other critical stakeholders in disaster management have officially opened Emergency Operation Centre at the Conference Hall of the Kogi State Deputy Governor, Lokoja.
In his address, the Executive Secretary of Kogi State Emergency Management Agency (KOSEMA), Alhaji Mouktar Atimah, highlighted that the Emergency Operation Centre has been opened according to the order by His Excellency, the Chief Servant of the state, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, in order to pave way for the agency to be able to collate data and information on incidents in flood affected areas to enable the state and federal governments take necessary actions.
Speaking further, the Executive Secretary explained that 42 Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camps have been mapped out across the nine Local Government Areas of the state for an impending flood.
“The Kogi State Government has set up an Emergency Operation Centre in Lokoja to reduce the impact of this year’s impending flood in the State. As we speak, 42 Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camps have been mapped out across the nine Local Government Areas of the state prone to flooding.” He emphasized.
Alhaji Mouktar named Lokoja, Kogi, Ofu, Ibaji, Ajaokuta, Bassa, Omala, Igalamela, and Idah local government areas prone to flooding, but flash flood was experiened recently in Kabba/Bunu and Okene in this heavy downpour season.
He, therefore, urged people living close to the riverbanks in these local government areas to be on alert, stressing that there was no lives lost in 2024, and appealed for collaboration among relevant agencies such as security, emergency responders and health workers to minimize the impact of impending flood.
While giving a review report of 2024 flood, the Director Relief, Kogi State Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Siyaka Sunday explained that 1,000,603 households were affected by flooding in Kogi State, stressing that the data had raised concerns for various stakeholders in the state as all hands must be on deck to reduce the impact of anticipated flood in the state.
He emphasized that 26 IDP camps were opened last year for the vulnerables and affected victims across the nine local government areas, adding that the relief materials from the state, federal, and NGOs were judiciously distributed across the affected LGAs.
Also In attendance were Director Information Services, Ministry of Information and Communications, Alhaji Ademu Seidu Haruna; Controller Kogi State Fire Agency, Sule Rabi; Deputy Commandant, Arowolo Michael, HOD Disaster and Crisis Management, Kogi NSCDC; the Special Adviser on Emergency to Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Mohammed Shuaibu; Special Adviser on IDPs to Kogi State Governor, Hon. Jimbo, as well as the Management staff of Kogi State Emergency Management Agency and representative from Ministry of Health, Dr Gabriel Atuluku, state Security Service, Red Cross, International Organisation on Migration, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Livestock, Nigerian Police Force, and other critical stakeholders.