…State Emergency Agency confirms deaths
By Tajudeen Balogun
The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has commiserated with the Niger State Government over the flood, which recently ravaged many lives in the Mokwa Local Government Area of the North Central State.
NGF Chairman and Kwara State Governor, AbdulRaman AbdulRazaq, said in a statement he signed on Friday, that the Forum was shocked by the magnitude of the flood, which has claimed many lives and property in the community.
It commiserated with the State Governor, Usman Bago, the government, and the people of the State over the loss of lives and property. The Forum disclosed that no fewer than 21 people had died and property worth millions of naira had been damaged by the flood which ravaged the Mokwa Local Government Area of the State.
The New Diplomat checks revealed that the flood followed heavy downpour on Wednesday and Thursday in the State and many parts of the country.
The Forum in the statement said further: “We are shocked by the magnitude of the flooding, which has resulted in the loss of lives and properties in the community.
“We sincerely commiserate with the affected families and express our support to the state government at this difficult time.
“We also commend the interventions of the Niger State Government and its coordination with the emergency responders to support the victims of this disaster.
“This flood again reminds us of the stark realities of climate change and the accompanying effects on how we live. We commit ourselves as leaders of our people to continue to work with the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to not only help our people cope with this global crisis but also to strengthen mitigative actions and relief institutions.
“We pray to God to console families who have lost loved ones and properties in the Mokwa incident, and we urge citizens to support the government’s efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change and to cooperate with agencies working to assist those in urgent need at this time.”
Meanwhile, the Director-General of the Niger State Emergency Management Agency, Abdullahi Baba Arah, has confirmed that 21 bodies were recovered and 10 persons were missing.
He confirmed that over 50 houses were destroyed.
The New Diplomat reports that the Flood in Mokwa will have serious socio-economic effects on both natives and travellers, just as the area is a transiting and resting enclave – connecting both Northern and Southern parts of Nigeria.
