Tag: Flood

Flood aftermath: Repair of East-West road to gulp N260 billion

In the aftermath of the recent flood that ravaged most parts of the country, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the sum of N260 billion for repairing the East-West road dilapidated by the recent flood.

TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the approval, granted at the FEC meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday, was for sections 1-4 of the road project, from Warri to Port Harcourt, Eket, Oron, including Oron-Eket bypass.

This thereby increased the total contract sum for the outstanding sections 1-4 of the East-West road projects from the sum of formerly N246 billion to N506 billion.

Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President made the disclosure while briefing State House correspondents after the FEC meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Akande said that the Minister for Works and Housing presented a memo in line with Federal Government’s continued engagement in bringing succour and resolving issues around the recent flooding.

“He got approval for the variation order in respect of repair works on the East-West road project affected during the recent flooding occurrences in the Niger Delta.

“So, the approval was for a variation order for the East-West road project sections 1-4 from Warri to Port Harcourt, Eket, Oron, including Oron-Eket bypass in the sum of N260 billion, thereby increasing the total contract sum for the outstanding sections 1-4 of the East-West road projects from the sum of formerly of N246 billion now to N506 billion.

“The memo was approved,” the presidential aide said.

Akande said that the Minister for Works and Housing also got approval for the award of contracts for the urgent repairs, and special general maintenance of a few roads nationwide.

He said the approval included the construction of Gogora Guru Road in Yobe state, in the sum of N40 billion, with a completion time of 36 months.

“He also got approval for the rehabilitation of the 90-kilometre Buni Gari Gulani road also in Yobe state in the sum of N4 billion with a completion period of 36 months,” Akande said.

The senior special assistant added the minister got approval for urgent repairs in some roads and also for the reconstruction of water cooperation, drive at Trinity Avenue Victoria Island Lagos state.

“That too was also approved in the sum of N2 billion with a completion period of 36 months,” he said.

He added that the minister also got approval for the award of a contract for the dualisation and reconstruction of the Kano-Kwana-Ganja-Adeja road in Kano and Jigawa States, section Kano to Salu.

“This was approved in the sum of N94 billion inclusive of 7.5 per cent VAT with a completion period of 24 months,’’ he said.

November 2, 2022
We sympathise with flood victims, but people must be alive to vote – Shettima

The vice-presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Kashim Shettima said in Abuja on Saturday that people must be alive to vote.

He was reacting to questions from newsmen who wanted to know what would happen to potential voters whose Permanent Voter Cards were lost to recent floods across the country.

“Beyond the issue of voter’s card, people have to be alive for them to cast their votes.

“It is very disheartening and unfortunate that we lost lives and property to the floods,’’ Shetima said at the unveiling of the national campaign headquarters of Hadizatu Uwani Mustapha (HUM) APC national support group.

“We sympathise with victims; we were in Damaturu on Friday to commiserate with flood victims.’’ he said.

Shettima said, however, that he is just a member of the political party, and that political parties should be allowed to play their role appropriately in that regard.

Commending HUM, Shettima said: “words cannot adequately convey our depth of gratitude for all the sacrifices you have made in mobilising men and resources for the party.

“This is to ensure that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and I win the election and be sworn in as president and vice-president in 2023.’’

He said all hands must be on deck to ensure victory.

“I thank HUM sincerely from the depth of my heart for her commitment, passion and empathy for our course,’’ he stressed.

In her remarks, Mrs Hadizatu Mustapha, chairperson, HUM national support group said no nation would record growth and development except with competent and courageous leadership.

She said the APC had taken the right step in the choice of its presidential candidate in the person of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his running mate, Sen. Kashim Shettima.

She said also that the APC would attract massive votes based on the wide acceptance of the presidential candidate and his running mate across the country.

“HUM national support group has initiated this move to unveil this edifice to house our operations to help us to translate our energies and expertise to deliver our candidates across board come 2023 general elections,’’ she said.

She said the group had no doubt that Shettima would deploy his energies, competences and critical thinking to complement that of his principal in furtherance of the vision set to change the tide of Nigeria.

This according to her is encapsulated in the agenda entitled “Hope Renewed’’ of the candidates.

“Our faith is tied to hard work and not luck.

“We should, therefore, set out to do our best in the interest of posterity so that the next generation after us shall be proud of us,’’ Mustapha said.

October 29, 2022
PHOTOS: Ex-President Jonathan laments after visiting flood-ravaged Bayelsa home

Former President Goodluck Jonathan on Thursday visited his country home of Otuoke in Bayelsa State and other communities in the State ravaged by flood.

Speaking after visiting the communities, Jonathan described the magnitude of the flood as depressing, stressing that he is touched by the dire situation.

“I sympathize with the victims of this year’s flood across many states of the federation who have lost loved ones and properties worth millions. The worsening humanitarian crisis in the affected states calls for urgent action and collaboration by all stakeholders.

“I am touched by the dire situation in some of the affected states, especially my home State Bayelsa where almost all the local government areas are submerged in water and the East-West Road section leading to the State has become impassable, creating scarcity of food and essential commodities.

“Today, I visited Otuoke, my community and a few other communities in Bayelsa State to have an assessment of the impact of the flood. It is still a depressing situation in many of the affected communities because of the magnitude of the flood and the disruption and destruction it has caused.

“This is a moment of crisis; we need to work in unity to achieve the goal of giving hope and providing succor to all victims. I urge all citizens of goodwill and humanitarian agencies to demonstrate solidarity with these victims and provide support to those affected,” the former President stated.

See photos below:

October 28, 2022
Flood: Medical supports provided to 199 LGs – Hajiya Farouq

Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, said medical support had been provided to 199 Local Government Areas affected by flooding across the country.

Farouq briefed State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

She said that as at Friday, records indicated that no fewer than 3.2 million persons were affected by flooding in Nigeria.

She said: “Today, with my colleague Minister of Water Resources, we made a presentation on the flood situation from the emergency and humanitarian aspect; we also have had series of consultations after the predictions by NIMET.

“ My ministry took proactive early action steps through series of activities; we had technical analysis that produced a 2022 Early Warning Document.

“ We also sent out letters to state governments; conducted a national consultative workshop on the 2022 flood preparedness, mitigation and response at the national and zonal levels.

“Unfortunately, in spite of all these efforts, the statistics of persons affected as Friday showed that 3, 219, 780 persons were affected by the flood across the country.

“ We have 1, 427, 370 persons that were internally displaced; we have 2776 persons that were injured; we also have 612 persons that lost their lives.”

Farouq also said that 181, 600 houses that were partially damaged while 123, 807 houses were completely damaged and 392,399 hectares of farmlands that were totally destroyed.’

According to Farouq, the flood this year has been very devastating and very unprecedented.

She said that there was need for a coordinated response so as to rescue victims of the flood across many states of the federation.

The minister said that the coordinated response presented an opportunity to operationalise the recently approved National Flood Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan.

“We have also sent out our search and rescue team that is being guided by a Search and Rescue and Epidemic Evacuation Plan.

“ Their personnel and teams require specialised and technical training; personnel protection gears and access to the right equipment.

“ Most of these specialised officers are skilled in first aid, defensive swimming and also how to handle boats in the riverine areas.

“The efforts so far in these communities are still ongoing with the search and rescue,’’Farouq added.

She said that the ministry had received report that in 144 Local Government Areas, local communities also worked with the ministry’s teams to provide the first aid response to their families and neighbours.

Farouq said that the collaboration showed the resilience of Nigerians in trying times.

“Our search and rescue team, which is also responsible for evacuating people and providing life-saving first aid and medical support and referrals to hospitals has also been able to reach 199 Local Government Areas within 25 states of the federation.

“`We also provided portable water through fire vehicles in the northern and central states like Jigawa, Kano, Benue and Kogi that first experienced the flood.

”The equipment are now on their way to the southern states as we are stabilising in the north and experiencing flooding in the south.

“The disaster rescue units of the military are also providing support with equipment.

“ In the southern states the military is still carrying out surveillance; and aerial assessment of in doubted communities to guide the ground rescue efforts and evacuation of victims of the flood,”Farouq said.

She said that the distribution of relief materials to the affected states had commenced.

According to her, the Federal Ministry of Health has been requested to interface with the affected state ministries to intervene in medical related issues to post flood epidemics.

Farouq said: “We have 22 states that we have been able to deliver these relief items; it is worthy to note that transportation of relief has been affected by some inaccessible areas.

“For instance, in the case of Bayelsa and Kogi, our trucks carrying relief materials were almost submerged on the road, hence the delay in the delivery of relief materials.

“ But, to address this in Bayelsa, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) is assisting us by airlifting these materials to the targeted communities.

“We are also distributing non food items in terms of shelter and other items; NEMA and the NAF officers are organising these materials to be airlifted to Bayelsa and Rivers.’’

She appealed to state governments, ministries and departments to also collaborate at the sub-national level.

The minister said that some of the casualties were caused by the inability to respond to early warnings being issued by different agencies of government since February.

“Government is doing everything possible to see that we bring support and succour to our affected citizens.

“ We want them to know that we hear them, we see them and we are with them at this trying moment,’’ she said.

October 27, 2022
Water Minister blames States for flooding

The Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, has blamed state governments for ignoring early warnings that could have averted the impact of this year’s flooding.

He made this known yesterday during a briefing after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

Adamu, who acknowledged that there is no way flood can be stopped, asserted that there was adequate information regarding the enormity of the disaster and states that would be affected but they were ignored.

At a joint presentation to FEC by his ministry and that of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Adamu said the present administration is already working on a flood management masterplan that will take at least three years to complete.

He also blamed tree felling and degraded soil for the massive impact of this year’s floods in the country.

Similarly, the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola absolved the Federal Government of any blame for not providing temporary shelters for citizens in vulnerable flood plains, maintaining that it is the responsibility of states and local governments.

According to him, his ministry has identified 154 places across the country that had been damaged by the recent floods.

October 27, 2022
Flood: Nigeria ought to have declared disaster emergency in some areas- Obi

The Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi has said that the country ought to have declared flood disaster emergency in some areas of the country.

TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports the LP presidential flag-bearer made this observation after an on the spot assessment of how flood affected states across Nigeria.

Obi who paused his National Presidential Campaign to enable him empathize with the victims of the flood disaster in some states of the federation has visited Benue, BAYELSA and Anambra states and said that Federal Government ought to have declared national emergency on the natural disaster.

According to the Labour Party Presidential flag bearer, the damage is much, the havoc is enormous and beyond states and individuals. “The infrastructural damage is extensive”

In all the ravaged areas he visited, Ogbaru in Anambra state, BAYELSA state, Obi was received by excited crowd of leaders and their people who led him first hand through the extensive damage to roads, markets, health and school infrastructure.

In BAYELSA state Governor Duoye Diri explained to Obi the extent of the damage and the extreme hardship the people are going through as a result. Obi commended the Governor for his proactive handling of the situation.

Recall that while in Benue state on last week on similar sympathy visit, he rode in a paddled Canoe to meet the people at their IdP camps and they out of excitement crowned him ‘President of the of the People’

October 25, 2022
Flood: Prices of food items soar high in the northern part of Nigeria

Food items prices have continued to soar high beyond the expectations of the people in the north due to excessive flooding in the last quarter of year 2022.

The Emir of Zazzau, Ahmed Nuhu Bamali had earlier predicted that hunger may surface in the north due to flooding.

Report say that the increase in prices of food in Sabon Tasha, Kawo and Central markets in Kaduna is due to the disruption in the supply chain occasioned by recent floods across Nigeria

Musa Arungo another trader in Kawo market on Sunday told newsmen that apart from foodstuff, there would be a scarcity of meat, onion and pepper, because these essential commodities did not yield produce this year, due to flooding in the northern part of the country.

” I load trailers of pepper, onion, from Gombe to Kaduna, and sometimes, to other states. But this year, the reports I am getting now is that no single pepper in the farm this year.” He said

Jonathan Musa who claimed to be a full-time farmer from Kagarko Local government area of Kaduna State said the excessive rain made him lose all his farm produce.

Rhoda Moses, who sells dried cassava, beans, yam, and sweet potatoes at the central market in Kaduna said for five weeks now, she has not been able to receive supplies from farmers in Kogi, Delta, Ogun or Anambra due to the flooding.

“Most of my suppliers come from different states; Lokoja, Delta, Anambra, River, etc, but since flooding took over some states, I learnt their farm could no longer be assessed. Even those who want to sell, can not enter Kaduna, because flood took over Kogi road.”

” I am a farmer, who cultivates yam, maize, plantain, and cassava in large quantities and supply to Kaduna main town. Many farmers in my area were forced out of business, due to excessive rain.” He said.

Mrs. Grace Adama who buys wholesale and sells in retail said prices of foodstuff increase daily. She said a bag of rice she bought on October 20 for 35,000 Naira, was sold for 37,000 Naira the following day.

According to her, as the wholesale price increases, so also traders will increase the retail prices of those food items.

October 23, 2022
Floods: Spike in snakebites, village head’s wife killed in Plateau

More cases of snakebites have been reported across the country as humans and reptiles clash in dry lands while scurrying away from devastating floods.

Correspondents of NAN who visited areas prone to snakebites and the treatment centres, found a sharp rise in the cases with more deaths recorded as the floods had equally blocked access to treatment centres.

Among those killed is the wife of the village head of Magama in Langtang South Local Government of Plateau.

“Yes, I can confirm that there is a huge rise in snakebite cases; one of the victims is the wife of the village head of Magama.

“It is a scary situation. Snakes and humans are all running away from the floods and would usually clash in the dry lands in the struggle for space,” said Dr Nandul Durfa.

Durfa, Managing Director, Echitap Group, producers of Anti-Snake Venom (ASV), regretted that many lives were being lost to the menace.

The former Chief Medical Director of University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, also decried the shortage of ASV in the treatment centres.

Dr Abubakar Saidu Balla, Research Officer, Snakebite Research Hospital, Kaltungo in Gombe State, who also spoke with NAN, described the situation further.

“Because of the devastating floods, farmlands are wet and the snakes go to higher grounds where they mix with people.

“The situation is worse in Riverine areas around Borno, Adamawa, Kogi, Gombe and Bauchi.

“The floods force snakes to migrate or carry them along and deposit at the forests, homes or over river banks.

“The situation is worsened by the fact that victims cannot go to medical centres to get attention because the roads and bridges are either washed away or flooded.

“In the rural areas, the motorcycles usually help, but they cannot ride through the water now. Very often, victims reach treatment centres dead.”

Balla said that it had become dangerous to go to the farms, especially in Gombe.

“It is time to harvest groundnuts and maize, but going to the farm is very dangerous now because the snakebites are rampant.

“Farmers cannot leave their crops in the bush, so contact with the snakes is often inevitable,” he said.

Meanwhile, statistics from the hospital indicate that 1,900 victims of snake bites had been admitted since January.

According to Dr Suleiman Mohammed, its Chief Medical Officer, 34 of the victims died.

He said that most of the victims were herders and farmers that were mostly in the bush and usually at risk.

“When the rains get to the peak, we tend to have more patients because most of the snakes are dislodged from their holes and hiding places by the waters.

“So, when there is flood, it is linked to incidents of snakebites because the flood tends to move the snakes away from their usual habitat and they often go to areas where humans live.”

He said that six deaths had been recorded in October with the rest spread across January to September.

Reports from Lokoja in Kogi also indicated that snake attacks had become common with people living in fear.

“We live in fear of snakes, but we thank God that we have not recorded an incident of snakebite,” Usman Agbaje, a resident said.

He said that travellers plying the Ganaja-Lokoja flooded road had often encountered big snakes while in the boats.

Another resident, Joseph Benjamin, said that snakes had been sighted at the Army Barracks.

“A big one was seen in a room recently; we were lucky that it was killed before it could harm anyone.

“Not long ago, a little girl sighted a snake under a chair and quickly notified her parents who later killed it,” he said.

October 23, 2022
Floods kill 23 in Kano State, 50 in Adamawa

The Kano State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has confirmed that 23 persons lost their lives to flooding and windstorm in 25 local government areas of the state.

Executive Secretary of the Agency, Dr Saleh Jili disclosed this at an event to mark the 2022 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction (IDDRR) in Kano on Friday.

The theme of the Day is “IDDRR Early Warning and Early Action for all # Only Together”.

He said the Day is designed to celebrate those working to save lives, restore hope, build resilience and give them sense of belonging after suffering devastations caused by the disasters.

Jili said the disaster also displaced 20,399 persons, 100 others injured, destroyed 15,000 farmlands and property worth over N2.1 billion in the affected communities from April to date.

He said the Agency also rescued eight people trapped in a collasped building at GSM Market, Beirut Road in Kano metropolis.

According to him, the state government has adopted proactive mechanisms to mitigate risk and disaster across the state.

Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje reiterated commitment to the protection of lives and property of the people in the state.

Represented by the Commissioner for Environment, Dr Kabiru Getso, Ganduje said the Day would create awareness on the dangers of disasters and how at risk communities could avert it.

“Disaster management include prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery as well as supporting the victims to survive,” he said.

He urged the people to desist from indiscriminate dumping of waste on drains, clear blocked water ways, adhere to building codes and environmental regulations.

Also speaking, Dr Nuradeen Abdullahi, Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Kano Territorial Office, urged relevant stakeholders and development organisations to strengthen early warning to mitigate flood.

Floods kill 50 in Adamawa – Official

Similarly, the recent floods killed at least 50 persons in 11 communities in Adamawa and injured 71 others.

Executive Secretary of Adamawa Emergency Management Agency (ADSEMA), Malam Suleiman Mohammed, made the disclosure on Friday in Yola.

He blamed the flooding on the release of water from Lagdo Dam in neighbouring Cameroon.

Mohammed said also that the flood destroyed 172,000 farmlands and food crops worth millions of naira.

“Some of the affected local government areas are Numan, Shelleng, Yola South, Yola North, Demsa, Mayo Belwa and Michika,’’ he said.

He added that the agency had provided clothes, foodstuffs, drugs, mosquito nets, blankets and buckets for victims to assuage their suffering.

“The items were donated by the state government, the Federal Government and by other donors,’’ he said.

Mohammed also told that ADSEMA would collaborate with the National Emergency Management Agency to move affected communities to safer areas.

“We will continue to sensitise the communities about the dangers of living in flood-prone areas,’’ he said.

October 22, 2022
My thoughts on japa – By Francis Ewherido

By Francis Ewherido

By now the word Japa needs no explanation. Nigerians are leaving our shores in droves for other African countries, Europe and America. The medical profession is hit below the belt. Thousands of our best doctors and other medical personnel have left the country for greener pastures in other countries, including the Middle East. It is not only the teaching hospitals and big hospitals that are hit, clinics are not left out. A friend, who had gone on semi-retirement, is back fully at his clinic. More than half of his doctors have gone abroad. He has the option of continuing his semi-retirement and watch over three decades of hard work fade away or come out of retirement and keep his clinic alive. He chose the latter. If you go to any hospital in the UK, at least one of the medical personnel, who will attend to you, is a Nigerian. Igbo, Yoruba and Pidgin English are widely spoken because of the large number of medical personnel working there.

The financial industry is also terribly affected. A friend spent four hours in the bank last week because the system was down and the staff who used to fix the problem have all relocated. Those of us in the insurance sector are also affected by the brain drain. Other sectors that require technical skills have been affected. The immediate impact is devastating. Many years were spent to train and groom these professionals. We are losing them in a twinkle of an eye. It will take a long time to train new people to replace them. Unfortunately, there is no guarantee that those we are training now will not also japa after being trained. The only solution to stem the brain drain is to fix our country and make it liveable and citizens-friendly. That is largely why the 2023 election is everybody’s business. More than half of the Nigerians I meet in the UK and the US want to come back home permanently or regularly. The major culprits scaring them away are insecurity and poor infrastructure, especially unstable power supply and bad roads. It is not rocket science to fix Nigeria. Lack of the ease of doing business and the prevailing corruption are two other major problems. No society is free of corruption, but corruption has crippled Nigeria, and at its present rate, the prospects are very bleak.

If we fix our nation, the brain drain would yield one major advantage despite its many disadvantages. Nigeria can benefit from the return of many of these Nigerians in diaspora if they come back home with their expertise. I spent three months in India for medical reasons about 10 years ago. Some of the doctors who attended to me were returnees from the UK. One was still in the UK and travels between India and the UK to perform surgeries.

It is every one’s right to live wherever s/he wants to live in this global village called the world. But I believe that it should be a matter of choice, not out of compulsion to escape from insecurity and economic hardship as is currently the case. But let me quickly add that some of the japa are borne out of me-tooism (herd mentality), peer pressure and ignorance. Deciding where you want to live or relocate to should start with a journey of self-discovery. You must know who you are, thoroughly investigate and understand the place you want to move to and if you can thrive in that environment. That done, you will know what will work for you, where and how. Many Nigerians in the US and the UK have no business remaining there. They are stuck, but home does not offer an attractive alternative to them. I have met some in the UK and the US. A cab driver I met in Chicago lamented that he was doing very well before the wife pressured him to relocate to America. But there are many Nigerians also doing very well.

I first thought of relocating to the UK in the nineties without a well thought out plan of what I wanted to do, besides becoming a chartered insurance practitioner. I did not think about how I was going to survive, where to stay and many other critical factors. Then I got married, and before I knew it, two children came in quick succession. Relocation got complicated and I jettisoned the idea. I studied here and became a chartered insurance practitioner.

I have since realised that I cannot live abroad. I struggle with the food, weather, culture, etc. I am fully settled with all the challenges of living in Nigeria. I will continue to travel, but my home remains Nigeria. My children will make their own decisions. I have had one on one discussions with them, pointing out their strengths and weaknesses. People who want to Japa must have an idea of what they want, plan, get expert advice, understand the country to which they are going and have enough money to survive before they stabilise. True, it is easier to get a job in the UK and US as long as you are not picky, but the system has inherent ways of making you take what is available, not what you want to do. You have to put aside your certificates, qualifications and pride at the beginning. Europe and America are levellers. Also, go through legal channels. Travelling via the Libyan route is madness and foolishness put together. Get the right visa. Desperation is not a good reason to Japa. Not everyone is meant to Japa or live abroad. Get that into your skull.

AFTER THE FLOOD, WHAT NEXT?

The annual flooding in many parts of the south reached an epidemic proportion this year. That is not the first time it is happening. Many are homeless and in IDP camps, including my village, Egwhu-Urhobo. The remains of dead people have been flushed into the open from cemeteries in Bayelsa. My father’s house, where he was buried, was spared because it is on high ground, but my late brother’s house was not spared. Meanwhile, some state governments and local governments are busy politicking. Some are just waking up from their slumber. The federal government’s reaction is also not swift and good enough, in my estimation.

But my real question is: “after this year, what next?” Wait for another flood next year? Absolutely not! We were initially told that the opening of a dam in Cameroun causes the annual flooding in Nigeria, but government officials said that is not the case. So what causes the annual flooding that has claimed over 600 lives this year alone? What are the solutions? The major oil producing states of Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa are badly affected. States like Anambra and Kogi are also badly affected. We cannot continue like this. Incidentally, the tenure of the current government terminates on May 29, 2023. We need the presidential candidates of all the parties to come out and tell us how they intend to stop the annual flooding. Any candidate without a concrete plan does not deserve the votes of voters from the affected states and all Nigerians for that matter.

October 22, 2022