In a bid to prevent casualties following the predicted flooding that may affect some flood prone Local Government Areas of the state, the Kogi State Government has warned against indiscriminate dumping of refuse, urging residents to relocate to higher ground in flood prone Areas to avoid casualties.
It could be recalled that the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) in May warned that 27 states together with 121 local government areas will experience high risk flooding during this year’s rainy season.
The states include Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Cross Rivers, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara and Lagos.
Other highly probable states of the impending floods are Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Oyo, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba and Zamfara.
called on the people of Sarki Noma community to maintain to some level of personal hygiene and sanitized environment.
Speaking to newsmen when he visited sakin Noma a suburb area in Lokoja on Friday, the Kogi State Commissioner for Environmental Hon. Victor Adewale Omofaiye urged resident in flood prone areas to relocate, stressing that their is highly level of destruction caused by indiscriminate dumping of waste in the drainages.
He noted that in as much as the people would not desist from dumping refuse on water ways the possibility of mitigating the effect of flooding will be reduced stressing that they are in the community to sensitize the people and create awareness for them to get themselves prepared for the upcoming flood.
According to him, going by
he Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) prediction, Kogi will be experiencing flooding.
He however restated the Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State commitment to tackling environmental issues in the State.
Earlier, the leader of Sarki Noma community who showed the Hon. Commissioner and his team round the area expressed dissatisfaction over the position of the river in sarki Noma which according to him always over flow during the flood and consequently destroying houses and other valuable properties.
The general manager, Kogi state Sanitation and Waste Management Board Mallam Abdulganiu Sanni had advice that every household should have waste bin stressing that this would go a long way to reduce the menace of dumping of refuse.
In his remarks, the Executive Director Kogi State Emergency Management Agency, (KOSEMA) commended Sarki Noma community for their collective effort in tackling flood issue, urging them not to relent in their efforts and that government is prepared to plan their own part.
Also speaking, Mrs Dorcas Enehe the Director Climate change who declared the 2021 NIMET prediction about the flood confirmed that sensitization of the flood prone areas is ongoing in the State.
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