The Emir of Gummi, retired Justice, Hassan Lawal has disclosed that over 10, 000 persons have been displaced and property and farmlands worth millions of Naira destroyed by flood in the area.
The Emir made this disclosure on Saturday when the Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal paid an on-the-spot assessment visit to the Local Government Area.
According to the Emir the incident occurred after a “few weeks” of intense rain in Gummi Local Government Area.
AFP reported that the Zamfara State Governor, Lawal visited the Gummi town and Gayari community on Saturday. The Governor was in the areas to assess the level of damage caused by the flood.
Briefing the Governor, the Emir gave the breakdown of the situation in the Local Government after the flood.
He said, “Following our discussion with experts, a permanent solution seems to be possible. For the assessment, 10,291 households were affected. But we understand that the Governor will go round to see for himself.”
Addressing the people of the community, On his part, the Governor sympathized with the flood victims. He announced an immediate relief package of N100,000 and the distribution of 10,000 bags of assorted grains, along with mosquito nets and blankets, to the victims.
The Governor also pledged to address the long-term flood management in the area by constructing new drainage systems. He also assured the repairing of the existing dams, and potentially building additional dams in the LGA.
He said, “Today, I am in Gummi Local Government Area to offer my condolences and conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the communities devastated by flooding caused by heavy rainfall last week.”
“I want to take this opportunity to inform you that I have donated 10,000 bags of food. These include rice, maize, and millet, to be distributed among the flood victims. The trucks are already on the way to Gummi for distribution.
“I am also, on behalf of the Zamfara State Government, supporting the affected victims with N100 million. In addition, all affected victims will be allocated lands away from the danger zone so that they can build new houses.”
Responding to the Governors good gestures, the residents of Gummi expressed their gratitude. They thanked the Governor for coming to sympathize with them after sending three different delegations earlier.
“We are happy to see the Governor visit us. This shows he cares for us. Two-thirds of the people in this community are now homeless because of the flood. For the Governor to come and see the situation, that alone has given us hope. Some are taking shelter in government buildings and some are in primary school. While others in some secondary school and in petrol Stations,” one of the residents said.
According to AFP, the Zamfara State Government has set up a committee led by Alhaji Salihu Maibuhu Gumi. The committee is to oversee the distribution of these relief materials. And to ensure that all affected individuals receive necessary assistance.
Recall that the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA on Thursday stated that at least 179 people have died and more than 200,000 displaced by floods in parts of the country.
Making this disclosure, an officer of the agency said most of the serious flooding has been in the northern part of Nigeria so far.
According to figures published by NEMA showed that at least 107,600 hectares (265,885 acres) of farmlands have also been affected.
However, while most of the deaths were in the country’s northern region, a NEMA spokesman, Ezekiel Manzo warned that the central and southern parts of Nigeria may be hit harder as the rain intensifies.
“The collection of water from the northern part flowing downward will also mean that the situation being witnessed the same in central and southern parts of the country will become worse,” Manzo told AFP.
“Communities along the banks of major rivers Niger and Benue are at higher risk. Some parts of the country previously not known to be flood-prone have seen floods,” Manzo said.
Flooding, usually caused by abundant rains and poor infrastructure, has caused large-scale destruction in Nigeria in the past, AFP reported.
It stated that in 2012, more than 360 people died and more than 2.1 million were displaced.
“In 2022, more than 500 people died and 1.4 million were displaced in the worst floods in a decade.
Recall that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday in a statement said that authorities would provide warnings to mitigate the impact of environmental mishaps.
In line with the President Tinubu’s directives, Manzo said emergency officials have mapped out plans to forestall a recurrence of flooding.
“We don’t have time to waste any longer so people will not be caught unaware,” he told AFP.
source: AFP
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