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Tag: Kogi State

  • NSC orders the re-opening of Obajana cement plant in Kogi state

    NSC orders the re-opening of Obajana cement plant in Kogi state

    The National Security Council (NSC) has issued an order for the re-opening of the Obajana cement plant shut down by the Kogi State Assembly last week.

    The decision to re-open the plant enmeshed in crisis since last week in Kogi state was taken today, (Friday) at a security meeting held in Abuja the country’s capital.

    The council also advised that all that issues in contention be resolved legally adding that the government’s commitment to providing employment was not negotiable.

    Recall that the Kogi state House of Assembly last week ordered the closure of the Obajana Cement plant until the issue surrounding ownership of the cement plant was resolved.

    The state government had claimed that available documents showed that the plant belonged to it 100 percent, a claim refuted by the Dangote industries which claimed that the Kogi State Government had no stake whatsoever in the plant adding that the Kogi state government was not entitled to any dividend in the company.

    While the Kogi state government queried Dangote over the purported transfer of Obajana to Dangote Industries Limited as well as tax evasion, an allegation that Dangote, on the other hand, came out to deny.

    In a release signed by the group managing director of Dangote Cement Plc, Michel Puchercos, the firm said the Obajana Cement plant in Kogi state is 100 percent owned by the company.

     

  • Kogi youths protest against Dangote’s ownership of State Cement Factory

    Kogi youths protest against Dangote’s ownership of State Cement Factory

    Youths in Kogi State have protested Dangote’s operations at the largest cement factory in Africa, the Obajana Cement Factory.
    The protest took place at the early hours of Tuesday with the young people comprising young men and women.
    The protesters carried placards of different inscriptions while chanting solidarity songs.
    some of the placards read; “Return our Cement Factory, We Stand with GYB, We Are Tired of Dangote Group,” among others.
    Heads of Obajana, Kabba Junction/Zariagi youths lead the protest.
    The Chairman of Kabba Junction/ Zaruagi youths, Abubakar Ahmed who spoke to the press on behalf of his colleagues, said their grievances with Dangote stemmed from the fact that the company has reneged on the Corporate Social Responsibility agreement reached with them.
    Rather than repair and improving them, the spokesman said Trucks being used by the company to convey Cement and coal to and from the company has destroyed lives and infrastructure of the community.
    In his words, “You need to go to Obajana main community, Kabba Junction here which is the gateway between the company and the North, Zariagi and even the state capital, Lokoja, to fully appreciate the level of damage caused by Dangote.
    “His drivers have killed countless people while conveying goods, cause dilapidation on our roads and created harmful situation through the dust being raised during production and conveyance of goods on our communities.
    “Despite all these, there is not a single infrastructure; be it health facility, school or anything to improve the lives of our people.”
    The spokesman said the youths support the state government, noting that their hope is for the right thing to be done to ensure what is due the state from Dangote gets to it.
    Other speakers, who also complained about their inability to  afford the cement which is being made in their community said it was inconceivable for them not to be able to afford what is being made in their immediate environment.
  • Burnt House of Assembly: Kogi state government calls for calm

    Burnt House of Assembly: Kogi state government calls for calm

    The Kogi Government has appealed to residents to remain calm over the state House of Assembly that got burnt in the early hours of Monday.

    The Commissioner for Information, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, made the call in a statement in Lokoja.

    Fanwo said that security and technical experts were already working hard to unravel the cause(s) of the inferno, which he claimed had caused significant damage to the complex.

    “We urge the general public to be calm, law-abiding and resist the temptation of being lawless as the government is capable of dealing with the likely outcome of the investigations.

    “The state government will also make provision for temporary arrangements to ensure the legislative business is not completely halted as a result of the unfortunate incident, ” he assured.

    The commissioner, who described the incident as ”very sad” said that the state government would inform the general public of the findings as they unfolded.

    Newsmen reports that the assembly complex was gutted by fire in the early hours of Monday, Oct. 10.

    The cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained by security operatives.

  • How worshippers observed Sunday service in a flooded hall in Kogi [Watch]

    How worshippers observed Sunday service in a flooded hall in Kogi [Watch]

    A video of Christian worshippers observing Sunday service in a flooded hall has surfaced on the internet and it has got tongue-wagging.

    The suspect to have taken place in Kogi saw worshippers sitting on a canoe and observing the Sunday service from different parts of the hall.

    At some points, the worshippers were seen dashing forward inside the waterlogged church hall barefooted to get the anointing oil hall in their hands from the cleric who was robbed in white.

    The worshippers were also seen singing and chanting in a language not English.

    Some internet observers claim that the language heard is one of the languages spoken in the North Central part of Kogi state.

    See Video below:

     

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  • Flood: Road Safety gives update on Abuja-Lokoja road

    Flood: Road Safety gives update on Abuja-Lokoja road

    Traffic gridlock occasioned by massive flooding at Koton Karfe on the Abuja-Lokoja Highway is thinning out, Acting Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Mr Dauda Biu has said.

    FRSC spokesman, Assistant Corps Marshal Bisi Kazeem, quoted Biu as saying on Sunday that the water level had continued to recede at the flooded portions of the road in Koton Karfe, Kogi.

    He said in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday that another broken down truck was towed off the road on Sunday, while traffic had been moving under the guidance and control of FRSC operatives.

    The military, FRSC and Civil Defence towed two articulated trucks that combined with the flood to render the road impassable away from the road on Saturday.

    The trucks, one with NNPC inscription on it, and another articulated vehicle, broke down almost adjacent each other at Koton-Karfe on Friday resulting in a total blockage of the flooded highway.

    Kazeem stated that as at Sunday, trucks are being passed in turns with priority given to 150 trucks heading to Abuja.

    “Palliative measures are being taken in conjunction with the National Union of Road Transport Workers to cover deep potholes with stones to enhance freer movement.

    “The queue of trucks outbound Abuja which stretched up to Gegu on the highway has reduced to Gapa, close to Koton Karfe,’’ he stated.

    Kazeem quoted Biu as still pleading with road users, particularly truck drivers to use alternative routes to further reduce the Koton Karfe-Lokoja gridlock.

  • Dangote, Kogi Govt continue war of words over ownership of Obajana Cement Plant

    Dangote, Kogi Govt continue war of words over ownership of Obajana Cement Plant

    The Kogi State Government and management of Dangote Cement Plc. are at loggerheads over the ownership of Obajana Cement Plant.

    The previous temporary closure of the company by some youths recently has caused a stand-off between the state government and the company, located in Obajana, near Lokoja.

    On Saturday, the state government alleged that the management of the company was plotting to disrupt public peace in the state.

    The state government in a statement issued by the state Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo in Lokoja, said that the government was in possession of evidence to prove its allegations.

    “We have uncovered certain plans by the company at a meeting held last night to cause chaos across the state as a fight back strategy against the state government’s decision to get its own legally supported equity from the cement company” the commissioner said.

    The commissioner further alleged that the management of the company intended to engage other security means to harrass some government officials.

    “They resolved to block all the major highways across the state with their trucks to make traffic unfriendly in the state.

    “If the company attempts to carry out any of his threats or deny our claims which are supported by facts, we will release visuals and audio of their meeting on this,” Fanwo said.

    One of the company’s public relations officials, Mr Abubakar Jibrin would not comment on any issue related to the matter.

    But the management of Dangote Cement Plc. said that the state government allegedly used some groups of persons to destroye the company’s assets and inflict injuries on some staff.

    In a statement issued by the Corporate Communications Department of Dangote Cement Plc. in Lokoja, the management of the company alleged that some people invaded the cement plant on Wednesday.

    “No fewer than 27 staff of the company are currently in bad conditions after the invasion.

    “Cement trucks were also burnt, and many others were vandalised, as they forcefully took the company’s buses and vans.

    “Since the attack, our vehicles carrying diesel have been attacked on Anyigba road,” the statement alleged.

    The statement said that some victims of the invasion were currently admitted to the emergency section of the Kogi State Specialist Hospital in Lokoja.

  • Floods anywhere is a challenge to humanity everywhere – By Owei Lakemfa

    Floods anywhere is a challenge to humanity everywhere – By Owei Lakemfa

    The Confluence Hotel in Ganaja, Lokoja used to be my favourite spot whenever I visited Kogi State. Its main attraction to me was sitting down to watch the Rivers Niger and Benue warmly embrace in an eternal wedlock as their waters flow down south to the Niger Delta before emptying themselves into the Atlantic Ocean.

    Sitting there, I never forget that one of the tributaries of these great rivers, with their confluence in Ganaja, is the Forcados River on whose banks I was born.

    I used to dash from Ganaja to eateries in the city centre; it took only a few minutes by taxi. Then some days ago, the usually friendly skies opened up, drowning several parts of the city. The Ganaja-Lokoja Road became a place only amphibious vehicles dare ply. The roads I used to go through had become extensions of the River Niger. Now, to move on the road required a boat. On Tuesday, October 4, 2022 a boat ferrying people along the road, capsized and two people drowned. Four others drowned in the adjoining area.

    All these sounded incredible until more videos emerged showing that in the Korton Karfe area leading to Lokoja, the flood that had submerged the town was so much that it was difficult for motorists to differentiate the road from the River Niger. But Kogi State was in a better state than Yobe State. There, as at October 2, seventy-five fatalities had been recorded and over 31,000 households affected across 255 communities.

    Although the floods have swept through 27 of the country’s 36 states, affecting half a million people with over 300 killed, including 20 last week alone, it does not appear government has woken up to the disaster. Rather than a sense of national disaster which requires emergency steps, including mass evacuation of affected or endangered communities, normal activities are going on, with the political rally industry booming.

    However, Nigeria is in a far better shape than Pakistan where 75,000 kilometres or about a tenth of the country has been under water. As at September 30, some 767,488 houses had been destroyed and over 1,277,000 damaged, especially in the Sindh, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, KP, provinces. Tragically, over 1,700 persons have been killed, and at least 12,800 injured. Over 4,000 children are on the casualty list.

    In a vastly agricultural state, over 3.5 million acres of croplands were destroyed and at least 1,162,000 livestock perished. This means that the livelihood of many households have been wiped out, with food insecurity staring many in the face. This is in a country that is politically unstable and already under severe strains of hyper-inflation which had seen food prices in unprecedented rise. In the last fortnight, the number of Pakistanis directly affected by the floods was 33 million, including some 800,000 Afghan refugees. As the flood waters recede, they leave behind millions of hungry and destitute people at the mercy of water- borne diseases, and a world diverted by unnecessary wars, especially that in Ukraine which is claiming huge amounts of humanitarian aid. Response to the appeal funds by international agencies may also be affected by the aid to war- torn areas.

    However, beyond nature, the greatest challenge to humanity is the politics of floods. Hurricane Ian tore through Western Cuba on September 25, destroying electricity facilities, flattening homes, devastating farms and making the economic situation accentuated by six decades of economic blockade and COVID-19 worse. Michael Doering, the Latin America Liaison at World Help who visited Cuba, said entire villages along with crops had been wiped out. In many cases, the Cubans have to start from ground zero.

    Just as is the case with the US which is also partly devastated by Hurricane Ian, people across the world want to come to the aid of the Cuban citizenry, but the US would not, even for a second, waive the punishing sanctions which make it difficult to send aid, including food, medicines and financial contributions, to the Cuban people.

    Also, some donors are afraid that the US would sanction them if they send aid. This dilemma is put in better perspective by Manolo De Los Santos, the Co-Executive Director of the New York City-based People’s Forum: “The centre is definitely taking donations, but they have a major challenge, which is, the bank they use, for example, in Cuba, is sanctioned by the U.S. government. We’re scratching our heads trying to figure out how to get resources directly to them.”

    Although the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control says it could allow disaster relief materials to be sent to Cuba, such donors would require licenses. In the face of this, it is unlikely that charity organisations and aid agencies would want to be seen assisting a country the US regards as an enemy and a danger to its security. When the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged the world, sending many to early graves, Asia’s richest man, Jack Ma, decided in March, 2020, to send massive aid to virtually all countries, including the US. In the Latin American and Caribbean Region, 24 countries, including Cuba, were picked to receive the aid. Specifically, the Jack Ma Foundation decided to send to Cuba 100,000 facemasks, 10 COVID-19 diagnostic kits, ventilators and gloves. But Cuba never got the aid as the Avianca Airlines, the cargo company distributing the aid, declined to deliver to Cuba because it is owned by a US-based company subject to the American trade embargo on Cuba.

    Since refusing aid to a people in need is morally indefensible, the Trump administration had claimed that the Cuban government will benefit from such sanction relief. About two months after this, Venezuela which was also in dire need as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, dispersed a Special Envoy, Alex Saab, to buy food and medicines from Iran. On June 13, 2020, he made a stopover in the West African country of Cape Verde to refuel. There, the US coerced the government to seize the ambassador for allegedly violating American sanctions against trade with Iran.

    When the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, Court ruled that Ambassador Saab’s detention is illegal, the extradition process requested by the American government be terminated immediately and that Cape Verde should pay him $200,000 compensation, America pressured poor Cape Verde to disobey the court. It rather, extradited Ambassador Saab to the US where he still sits in jail.

    Floods anywhere is a challenge to humanity everywhere; therefore, the US should without any exception, allow humanitarian assistance to be given to all humans who need them irrespective of ideology, religion, creed or race.  Basically, all human beings are the same with equal rights, and should be treated as such.

  • Dangote calls for calm over shutdown of Obajana Cement plant

    Dangote calls for calm over shutdown of Obajana Cement plant

    The Management of Dangote Cement Plc, has appealed to all its staff and customers to remain calm while the company explored all possible legal steps to address the illegal shutdown of its Obajana plant by the Kogi government.

    Mr Michel Punchercos, Managing Director, Dangote Cement Plc, made the appeal in a statement on Friday in Lagos.

    Punchercos stressed that the welfare of the company’s staff remained a key focus as the company worked hard to minimise further impact on its people and operations.

    He said the company had taken steps to get the hoodlums apprehended by the law enforcement agencies, and would ensure that full legal action was taken against them.

    “The management of Dangote Cement Plc, wishes to inform members of the public, especially its customers and other stakeholders of the recent invasion of its Obajana Cement Plant, Kogi by armed vigilantes on the orders of the state government.

    “The vigilantes, led by some officials of the state government were apparently acting on a resolution of the Kogi state House of Assembly on controversial tax claims.

    “Claims that the state governor had also contradicted when he said the shutdown was due to an alleged invalid acquisition of the company by Dangote Industries Ltd.

    “In the process of forcefully evicting the workers to enforce the shutdown, the vigilantes shots at 27 of our workers and also destroyed some of the company’s property at the plant.

    “While we reiterate that Obajana Cement plant is 100 per cent owned by Dangote Cement PLC, we remain resolute in transforming Africa, while creating sustainable value for our people, communities, investors and customers,” he said.

  • Kogi Govt moves to recover cement company from Dangote

    Kogi Govt moves to recover cement company from Dangote

    The Kogi State Government on Thursday moved to recover Obajana Cement Plant from Dangote Company Limited.

    The government’s resolution is contained in the report of the Specialised Technical Committee on the Evaluation of the Legality of the Alleged Acquisition of Obajana Cement Company by Dangote Cement Company.

    The detailed report was submitted to Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi in September. The report was presented to the public by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Folashade Ayoade, on Thursday in Lokoja.

    Ayoade said, “Recovery of the state’s Obajana Cement Company Plc from Dangote Cement Company Limited became imperative at this point in time.”

    The SSG revealed with documents that the purported transfer of Obajana to Dangote Industries Limited was “invalid, null and void”.

    She disclosed that in the report, three Certificates of Occupancy for Obajana Cement Company Plc, which was solely owned by the Kogi State Government at the time, were used to obtain a loan of N63billion by Dangote.

    According to her, the committee, in view of its findings, has, therefore, recommended that Kogi State should take steps to recover Obajana Cement Company from the Dangote Group.

    The Committee, chaired by the SSG, also recommended that: “Kogi State Government should take steps to recover all accrued dividends from profits made over the years, including accrued interest on same.

    “Kogi State Government should take steps to cancel the existing seven Certificates of Occupancy in the name of Dangote Cement Company.”

    Stressing the aberration in the arrangement, the SSG said, “Agreement between Kogi State Government of Nigeria and Dangote Industries Limited, dated 30th July 2002.

    “And, supplemental agreement dated 14th February 2003, as contained in Exhibit 71 of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry Report, purporting the transfer of Obajana Cement Company Plc to Dangote Industries Limited, are all invalid, null and void.

    “There is no evidence of consideration paid by Dangote Industries Limited to Kogi State Government from the alleged transfer of Obajana Cement Company Plc and no dividend was paid to the state from the profits realised from the inception of Dangote Cement Company Plc to date.

    “By the assignment of the three certificates of occupancy, the title in Obajana Cement Company Plc, still vests in Kogi State Government as the sole owner.

    “The three documents were used to obtain a loan of sixty-three billion naira only (63,000,000,000.00) to finance the construction of the cement plant in Obajana.”

    Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Matthew Kolawole, specifically noted that the acquisition of the Obajana Cement Company by Dangote was without the resolution of the House of Assembly, which made the process null and void.

    “It is clear that you cannot sell a state government property of any form without the resolution of the Kogi State House of Assembly.

    “All the transfer process of the share capital to Dangote from Obajana by the previous administration was without any law backing it by the state House of Assembly,” Kolawole stated.

    In his remarks, Gov. Yahaya Bello said that he had taken the bold step, in line with his mandate to safeguard the lives and livelihood of the people of Kogi State, including residents, and to ensure their wellbeing.

    Bello said this was also coming on the heels of protests by the people of the state who felt they had been suppressed and marginalised by the Dangote Group who had come to rip them off.

    The governor, however, said that the state was open to discussions once Dangote Company Plc is ready to come clean.

    “We received several petitions from the general public over this particular subject matter. In the past five to six years, all efforts to sit with the proprietors of the Dangote Conglomerate failed.

    “We set up a committee to look into this and invited the Dangote company to discuss with them and tell them the imminent dangers they are exposing the people to, but it all fell on deaf ears.

    “I am here to defend my people, and from all reports, it is clear that Obajana Cement Company does not belong to Dangote,” Bello declared.

  • Flood in Kogi: See alternate routes to get to South South, South West

    Flood in Kogi: See alternate routes to get to South South, South West

    Flood has overtaken major roads in Ajaokuta, Lokoja and Koton Karfe Local Government Areas of Kogi State, which made it impossible for travellers to pass through Lokoja to Abuja or Abuja to Lokoja thereby creating untold hardship.

    While the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has released boats to help provide services for stranded travellers, travellers who are keen on travelling have been advised to take alternate routes as the water level is expected to take another two or more days to subside.

    Alternative routes for the Lokoja-Abuja Expressway are the Suleja-Bida-Mokwa road for travellers going to the South-West region of the country and the Nasarawa-Oweto Bridge-Adoka-Otupka axis for those travelling to the South-South/South-East regions.

    NIWA provides boats, ferry services to flood victims in Kogi

    Meanwhile, NIWA says it has released boats to provide ferry services for stranded travellers in Ganaja Village, Lokoja and Koton Karfe area of Kogi.

    NIWA Managing Director George Moghalu said that the measure was aimed at easing the sufferings of travellers from outside and within the state caused by the flooding.

    Mr Jibril Dardau, the NIWA General Manager, Corporate Affairs, announced this in a statement issued in Lokoja on Thursday in Lokoja.

    The general manager said that the directive became imperative in view of the fact that the current flooding surpassed that of 2012, causing havoc in several communities in Kogi.

    “With the NIWA gauge readers in Lokoja, the 2022 flood level is reading 13. 22 metres as against 12. 84 metres flood reading level of 2012.

    “This clearly shows that this year’s flood level surpasses that of 2012 flood level which makes it dangerous and frightening.

    “It’s unfortunate that the flood has overtaken some major roads in Ajaokuta, Lokoja and Koton Karfe Local Government Areas of Kogi, thereby impeding normal and easy movements by motorists and commuters.

    “The flood has made the highways impassable for travelers from or through Lokoja to Abuja thereby creating gridlocks and serious hardship on Nigerians,” he said.

    According to him, NIWA in conjunction with the Boat Owners Association, has been providing succour to the victims in compliance with the safety guidelines of wearing life jackets, avoiding overloading, over speeding and night sailing.

    He, however, appealed to travelers and boat operators to keep to the safety rules and regulations to avoid any eventuality.

    Flood-ravaged Kogi LGA seeks FG, state’s intervention

    Meanwhile, the indigenes of Ibaji Local Government Area (LGA) of Kogi, under the aegis of Ibaji Unity Forum (IUF) have appealed to the Federal and State Governments for urgent intervention to ameliorate the suffering of the flood victims in the area.

    The President of IUF, Mr Stephen Uchola, made the appeal after he led officials of the organisation to visit some affected communities in Ibaji on Tuesday.

    Uchola urged the Federal and Kogi Governments to urgently take necessary steps to rescue thousands of people trapped in different communities in the area due to the ravaging flood disaster.

    He claimed that since the outbreak of the devastating flood that submerged the entire local government and rendered the residents homeless, there had not been any assistance from the government and its agencies for the victims.

    Uchola said that many of the victims were in danger of losing their lives as they were sick without drugs, food and shelter.

    He added that many had remained trapped in their communities as all the roads in the local government had been taken over by the flooding.

    “What we saw at the various places we visited necessitated this urgent call on the various arms of government, non-governmental organisations, philanthropists and donor agencies to come to the aid of the victims.

    ”They have lost everything to the flood and are battling to survive the disaster.

    “We visited some communities on Monday and Tuesday and will continue on Wednesday to cover the entire 10 wards in Ibaji LGA.

    “The 10 wards – Onyedega, Iyano, Ujeh, Ayah, Ojila, Odeke, Akpanyo, Unale, Ejule and Analo have been devastated by flood.

    ”Dangerous reptiles have taken over the flooded houses and six deaths have been reported so far,” he said.

    The IUF president noted that in Aniocha in Ojila Ward, a 3-year-old child fell into the river and died, adding that the casualty figure was low because many of the people could swim.

    He said that thousands of people in the area, including children, are sick, stranded and eager to leave the area but could not because the volunteers using wooden boats to evacuate them could not do much.

    ”Having lost their source of livelihood, they are now helpless and praying for relief assistance, especially food, drugs, clothing and shelter.

    ”If these are not provided urgently, from what we experienced, many will not survive this harsh condition.

    “Unfortunately, those already evacuated to Idah town and some neighbouring states are also suffering and are finding it difficult to cope, with some of them wearing one dress since they were rescued.

    ”Many of them have no place to sleep; their condition is very pathetic and they are crying for help,” Uchola said.

    He called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and Kogi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), to urgently intervene and evacuate the victims to safe places and provide much-needed support to the local government.

    “We are sending this Save-Our-Soul message to President Muhammadu Buhari and Gov. Yahaya Bello as well as NEMA to come to the rescue of our people.

    ”These people cannot help themselves under the present circumstances and their survival now depends on support from the government and donors,” he said.

    Uchola further appealed to members of the public and kind-hearted individuals to come to the aid of the victims by providing cash donations, relief materials and foodstuffs.

    Kogi flood: FCT minister of state seeks emergency intervention

    The FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, has appealed to the Federal Government to aid the Kogi State Government with relief materials for communities devastated by flooding in some parts of the state.

    Mr Austine Elemue, Special Assistant on Media to the minister in a statement, on Thursday in Abuja, said Aliyu made the appeal at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.

    The minister expressed fear of a possible outbreak of communicable diseases if urgent steps were not taken to ameliorate the suffering of the people.

    Elemue quoted Aliyu as highlighting the importance of the Lokoja and Abuja expressway as a major link between the North and Southern parts of the country.

    She expressed concern that significant man hours were being wasted on the road due to the gridlock caused by the flood.

    The minister said: “Access to shops and hospitals are now by canoes and ferry boats. Houses were submerged to the roof-top, while smaller buildings were completely submerged.

    “We fear an outbreak of diseases. We need medical attention. Some have no food or clean drinking water.

    “As it is, from the Koton Karfe area before the bridge, commuters spend more than 11 hours on that stretch with no food and water.”

    Aliyu, while commending the state government’s decision of evacuating persons living along the low plains, called for urgent federal intervention before the flood got to the upper land as it was already threatening to do.

    She said: “In some areas that are very deep, they had to evacuate them to the upper land,  but even at that, it keeps coming. As of yesterday, the level had increased.

    “Your Excellency, may I use this opportunity to draw your attention and the attention of the Federal Government to seek support for the people of Kogi State and Kogi State itself,” she appealed.’’

    Aliyu, who also drew FEC’s attention to the danger the road posed to commuters, however, said that several trucks could have plunged into the river, but for the insight and expertise of the drivers.

    “Your Excellency, this is one of the gateway cities and the major road that links the north and south. This portends danger especially for passersby who may not be conversant with the area, like the luxurious bus operators.

    “This is because the bridge has been submerged in the last three to four days and that in itself is scary.

    “This is the reason I call your attention and the attention of the FEC.

    “As I also seek the support of my sister, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, who has always been there for areas in dire need, to also look into this for quick intervention.

    “Your Excellency, this, I wish to bring to your attention, that it is a looming danger, from disease outbreak to death, as we have already recorded four casualties”.