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Tag: NEMA

  • Nigeria lost over N1trn in two weeks to flooding – Financial expert, Gbolade

    Nigeria lost over N1trn in two weeks to flooding – Financial expert, Gbolade

    The Nigerian economy and businesses have  recorded a huge loss to the tune of N1trillion plus  in two weeks due to the flooding crisis, a Financial economy expert Mr Idakolo Gbolade  has said.

    Gbolade noted in an online medium that flooding has affected many agrarian areas in the country.

    According to him, “The recent flooding affects most agrarian areas in Nigeria, thereby affecting the availability, cost of food products.

    “The flooding has affected Nigeria economy and businesses greatly. Billions of businesses plying the Lokoja-Abuja road have been stranded for over 15 days now. For instance Fuel Tankers using Lokoja road to supply Premium Motor Spirit(PMS) to North Central and Abuja have been held up in Lokoja because of the flooding crisis. This will no doubt affect businesses relying on fuel for energy.

    “Also, Irish potatoes, tomatoes, pepper, onions, carrots, yams and others food Items have witnessed sharp rise as a result of the flooding. The cost of transporting goods through alternative routes is higher, hence, the price increase.

    “The Nigeria Economy and businesses have lost over N1trillion naira in two weeks to this year’s flooding crisis”, he stated.

    Flooding in some parts of Nigeria have crippled many businesses and hugely affected farming.

    States in Kogi, Benue, Anambra, Niger, Nasarawa and other states in Nigeria are worst hit by the flood.

    Many houses have been submerged, a large chunk of dry land cut off, over 80 lives lost and 600,000 persons displaced according to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

    The flood situation in the Lokoja-Abuja federal highway has caused travelers excruciating pains. Trucks supplying foods items from the South to the North and North to the South have been stalled.

    NEMA described the nightmares some Nigerians are facing owing to this year’s deadly flooding, a crisis now demanding global intervention.

    Governor of Kogi State, Yayaha Bello said the flood crisis is a near-hell disaster.

    He disclosed that Kogi State’s worst-hit Ibaji district is “100 per cent underwater” while calling for quick intervention.

    The Director-General of Nigerian Meteorological Agency, Prof. Mansur Matazu on Tuesday revealed that the North Central and Southern zones should expect more flooding.

    Meanwhile, calls have been made for both urgent immediate, and permanent solutions to the flooding crisis.

  • NEMA, military begin SAR operation to airlift trapped flood victims in Anambra

    NEMA, military begin SAR operation to airlift trapped flood victims in Anambra

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and the Disaster Response Unit (DRU) of the Military has commenced Aerial view operation to ascertain persons displaced or trapped by the rising floods in Anambra.

    Mr Thickman Tanimu, Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, South-East, told newsmen on Monday in Awka, that it would aid the airlifting of trapped persons in the affected communities.

    “Search and Rescue (SAR Operations) has commenced today. The Military DRU have engaged and have started ‘Air Recce’ or Aerial view to collect imagery intelligence of the affected communities.

    “This will help to accertain displaced and trapped persons who need to be evacuated to pave the way for air lifting,” he said.

    Tanimu said that the Presidency and the Director-General NEMA, Mustapha Ahmed-Habib, while commiserating with the state government and flood victims including the bereaved, approved the relief materials.

    He said that the relief materials would be presented directly to flood victims on Tuesday.

    “The delay in arrival of the relief materials is due to the flood disaster that cut off Abuja – Lokoja road and also the security situation due to the Monday sit-at-home in the South East.

    “The relief material will hopefully arrive on Tuesday and be ready for delivery directly to victims.

    “These items are meant to complement the efforts of Anambra State Government in providing immediate succour to victims and aid their speedy rehabilitation,” he said.

  • S3x worker, customer perish in Lagos building collapse during s3x

    S3x worker, customer perish in Lagos building collapse during s3x

    Emergency officials, who refused to be named, have disclosed that two of the victims – a male and female – of the recent building collapse in Lagos State were engaged in intercourse when the incident happened.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) recalls that the building collapsed at Oye Sonuga Street, Palm Avenue in Mushin with emergency responders recovering two males’ and two females’ dead bodies and rescuing one person.

    The victims were said to be prostitutes and their ‘clients’. “In fact, they were naked when their bodies were recovered,” one official who pleaded anonymity told Daily Trust.

    Another official who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to talk to the press, said:

    “We were shocked by what we saw at the scene. The last two victims whose dead bodies were recovered were actually having sexual intercourse. The man was on top of the prostitute when the building collapsed. They both died”.

    Another official said: “The place was used as a Club House/Motel and the female victims were actually prostitutes; the last female we recovered was with a man. They were having a nice time when we recovered them.”

    As of the time of filing this report, the families of the victims were yet to be found.

    “We have to reach out to their colleagues there who are all prostitutes to get information on the victims’ families,” the source said.

    LASEMA said the recovered dead bodies, which comprised of two adult males and two adult females, “were dug up from beneath the rubbles of the collapsed portion of the 3-storey building after the Agency deployed its sophisticated echo and life detection equipment which pinpointed the exact location of the trapped victims, while the light and heavy equipment were deployed in accordance with the path that was charted by the echo machine.”

    Okunbor Nosa, spokesman of LASEMA, in a statement, said the collapsed portion of the old house was recently constructed and attached to the original structure said to be over 40 years old.

    The state Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Engr. Omotayo Bamgbose-Martins, who visited the scene directed that the adjoining building be pulled down immediately to forestall further collapse.

    LASEMA statement added that the State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and the Materials Testing Laboratory, have been directed to unravel the immediate and remote cause (s) of the collapsed building.

  • FCT residents warned to respect flood alerts

    FCT residents warned to respect flood alerts

    The FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on Friday in Abuja warned Abuja residents against ignoring early flood warnings from the weather forecast agencies.

    The Director-General of FEMA, Alhaji Abba Idriss, issued the warning at the 2022 FEMA Annual Review and Preparedness Meeting with over 250 Local Divers, Community Vanguards, Flood Rescue Teams and 50 Town Criers.

    He said that the meeting was coming at a time when flood warnings from the weather forecast agencies, especially Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), are issuing serious flood alerts almost on a daily basis.

    Idriss said the rising water levels in the nation’s major rivers in the country – especially River Niger and River Benue – couple with the threats coming from the Lagdo dam in Cameroon are issues of great concern.

    Idriss emphasised the need for residents to abide and obey the early warning and would be issued out to them from time to time through the conventional and social media.

    According to him, as soon as the agency get flood early warning it will disseminate the information so that people will take advantage of that.

    He therefore urged residents to ensure that they get information about the way they will pass through before leaving their homes, offices and markets.

    “The reason why we call for this meeting is first to alert our local divers, volunteers, vanguards and town criers on the likelihood of flooding.

    “Secondly, is to call on the residents of the Federal Capital Territory to be on their alert as well that all is not well yet. We have to be watchful, we have to keep observing those environmental laws and we also have to abide by the building code.

    “FCT residents must also ensure that they don’t block drainages, avoid building on the waterways and also avoid driving on a running water. People shouldn’t undermine water they see on the road to think that they have high capacity vehicle that move on running water.”

    Earlier, Mrs Florence Wenegieme, the Director, Forecasting Response Mitigation of FEMA, explained that the event was organised to review with stakeholders especially the local divers, volunteers, vanguards, local emergency committee and town criers.

    Wenegieme expressed optimism that the meeting would help the agency to save lives and properties in the nation’s capital.

    “We call them three or four times annually to review all the activities; to reactivate them, to know that they should always be on standby because we want all hands to be on deck to mitigate flood and other disasters in the territory.

    “We have almost 600 volunteers, local divers, town criers. We are doing the meeting by representation, we call over 200 today and next meeting we will call another set of 200 persons again to make sure that we create the needed awareness in them.

    “We are training them on how to use use modern rescue equipment when somebody get drown in the river or in the wall,” she said.

    Also, the Director-General, Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Mr Clement Nze, reiterated the resolve of the agency to deepen partnership with FEMA in coordinating issues around water and flooding.

    “I will say that we are aware of most of the activities of State Emergency Management Agency and out of all of them FEMA is on top in terms of being relevant on community development

    “We are delighted to associate ourselves with FEMA based on what we see on ground being done by the DG.

    “I want to urge the divers and vanguards, local emergency committee, town criers and flood rescue team to see their role as very important in tackling flood in FCT.”

    Similarly, the Director-General, NiMet, Prof. Mansur Matazu, also expressed willingness of the agency to deepen partnership with FEMA, adding that the agency has been very cooperative in emergency management.

    Represented by Mr Kamorudeen Alao, the Assistant General Manager, Hydro, Matazu said the partnership which was beyond the issue of downscaling would continue to grow stronger.

    On his part, the Director-General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr Mustapha Ahmed, said the meeting was very critical to mitigating flood and other disasters in the FCT.

    Represented by Mr Agbor Etim, NEMA’s Principal Search and Rescue Officer, Ahmed said disaster management was all encompassing, adding that everybody need to be on board to help ensure effective disaster management.

  • BREAKING: NEMA releases details of casualties in Mushin building collapse

    BREAKING: NEMA releases details of casualties in Mushin building collapse

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Friday said four persons died while one was rescued in the building collapse at Oye Sonuga Street, Palm Avenue, in Mushin, Lagos.

    The NEMA South West Zonal Cordinator, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, confirmed to NAN.

    He said two males and two females died, while one person was rescued in the building collapse.

    Earlier, the Lagos State Government also said it would investigate the cause of the building collapse.

    The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Omotayo Bamgbose-Martins, made this known in a statement made available to NAN.

    While visiting the site of the three storey building, which was said to be about 40 years old, he directed that the building be pulled down immediately for safety reasons and to forestall further collapse.

    He directed the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and the Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory to unravel the cause of the collapse.

  • BREAKING: Many trapped as another building collapses in Lagos

    BREAKING: Many trapped as another building collapses in Lagos

    Another building collapsed on Friday on Sonuga street in the Mushin area of Lagos State as the number of casualties is yet to be ascertained at the time of filing this report.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) report the four-storey building, located at Oye Sonuga street, opposite Oye roundabout, Isolo road Mushin went down a few minutes ago.

    It was gathered that many are trapped under the rubble. However, the agencies of government are yet to release an official report on the building collapse.

    Rescue operations have commenced already, but as of the time of filing this report, nothing concrete had been reported from the venue of the incident. Meanwhile, an adult and a child have been rescued alive.

    Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said: “A building has collapsed on Oye Sonuga Street, at Palm Avenue, in Mushing. Rescue Operation ongoing”.

    Also the Lagos State Coordinator of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Lagos Office, Ibrahim Farinloye confirmed the incident, saying the rescue team has commenced operations on site.

  • Overflow of dams imminent, 13 states prone to flood – NEMA

    Overflow of dams imminent, 13 states prone to flood – NEMA

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has hinted that about thirteen states in the country will experience heavy flooding in the remainder of the year.

    The affected states are Adamawa, Taraba, Benue, Niger, Nasarawa, Kebbi, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Anambra, Cross River, Rivers and Bayelsa.

    NEMA also added that Kainji, Shiroro and Jebba dams are expected to overflow between now and the end of October.
    The agency noted that Lagdo dam opened in the Republic of Cameroon will also exacerbate the situation in the country.

    The Director General of NEMA, Mustapha Ahmed revealed these in Abuja on Monday during an emergency meeting aimed at reviewing the emergency and planning for further action by all responders.

    He said: “Based on our communication with the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), the Lagdo dam operators in the Republic of Cameroon have commenced the release of excess water from the reservoir by 13th September 2022.

    “We are aware that the released water cascades down to Nigeria through River Benue and its tributaries thereby inundating communities that have already been impacted by heavy precipitation.

    “The released water complicates the situation further downstream as Nigeria’s inland reservoirs including Kainji, Jebba, and Shiroro are also expected to overflow between now and October ending according to NIHSA.

    “According to NIHSA, Kainji and Jebba dams have already started spilling excess water from their reservoirs

  • Death toll rises in Lagos building collapse

    Death toll rises in Lagos building collapse

    One more body has been recovered on Monday from the rubbles of a seven-storey building that collapsed at Oba Idowu Oniru Street, Lekki in Lagos on Sunday.

    The building, which is still under construction, caved in on Sunday morning and reportedly killed two people initially, but the death toll later rose to four before the latest recovery, officials said.

    Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, South West Zonal Coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), confirmed the recovery of the body on Monday, which has raised the death toll to five.

    While the remote and immediate causes of the building’s collapse have yet to be ascertained, search and rescue operations were ongoing at the site of the collapsed building to possibly rescue the trapped victims.

    Collapsed building: LASG orders arrest of developer, construction experts

    Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has ordered the arrest of the developer and building professionals working on the seventh-floor structure that collapsed in the early hours on Sunday.

    A statement by Mr Mukaila Sanusi, spokesperson, Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, said the building, under construction, was located at Oba Abiodun Oniru road, Iru/Victoria Island area.

    The Commissioner in the Ministry, Dr Idris Salako, gave the order during his visit to the collapsed building site.

    Salako said that the developer and professionals were liable because they  did not regard the planning laws of the state.

    According to him, this is having embarked on construction without a valid planning permit and ignoring official warnings against continuing the building works.

    He said that under no circumstances should anyone construe the filling of application for permit through the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority as a ticket to start construction.

    He said: “There must be a valid planning permit from the aforementioned agency in addition to letter of authorisation and stage inspection at every stage and certification by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA).

    “This will ensure that construction works are carried out in conformity with the approval granted”.

    The commissioner, however, said that the Police had started a manhunt for the developer, architects, builders and engineers involved in the project while the government was investigating the circumstances surrounding the collapse.

    He expressed worry over increasing disregard for law and order by actors in the built environment, adding that government was determined to restore sanity and orderliness to the sector.

    He also said that the state government had declared incidents of building collapse intolerable.

    Salako urged Lagos residents to join hands with the government to maintain vigilance in the built environment by reporting any illegal developments in their vicinity.

    He adde that infractions should be reported through any ministry or state government communication channels, particularly the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development APP and LASBCA.

  • 6 persons trapped as 7-storey building collapses in Lekki

    6 persons trapped as 7-storey building collapses in Lekki

    Six persons are reportedly trapped as a seven-storey building collapses at Lekki, Lagos State.

    Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, Zonal Coordinator South West, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), confirmed the incident on Sunday in Lagos.

    Farinloye said that the building located at Oba Idowu Oniru Street, Lekki, was under construction when it collapsed.

    He said that six persons were apparently trapped under the rubbles of the building.

    Emergency responders included the Nigerian Police Force, NEMA and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).

    Operations are ongoing as at the time of report.

  • Flood: NEMA presents relief materials to victims in Katsina State

    Flood: NEMA presents relief materials to victims in Katsina State

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) presented relief materials to Katsina State on Thursday for distribution to victims of flooding in 13 of its 34 local government areas.

    The affected local government areas are Sabuwa, Funtua, Danja, Musawa, Kusada, Zango, Katsina, Batsari, Batagarawa, Safana Musawa, Kankara and Ingawa.

    Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar-Farouq made the presentation in Katsina.

    According to her the items include 3,000 bags each of rice, maize and beans, 100 kegs of (20-litre) vegetable oil and 200 cartons of seasoning cubes.

    Others are 300 bags of (20kg) iodised salt, 1,000 bags of cement, 100 (25kg) bags of 3-inch nails, 300 bundles of roofing sheets, 100 packets of zinc nails and 500 pieces of three-feet by six-feet mattresses.

    Also presented were 1,000 pieces of blankets, 5,000 pieces of nylon mats, 2,000 pieces of insecticide-treated mosquito nets, 4,000 pieces of Guinea brocade, 500 pieces of wax textile prints and 1,000 pieces of children’s wears.

    “These items are meant to complement the efforts of Katsina State government in providing immediate succour to victims and aid their speedy rehabilitation.

    “The items are not for sale and should not be sold,’’ the minister warned.

    She commended Gov. Aminu Masari for providing the first line of support to the victims and for constructing more culverts and drainages to address flooding.

    “We are also aware of personal donations made by individuals to provide immediate succour to those affected.

    “The public is reminded and encouraged to avoid practices that can block drainages and should communally participate to maintain them for sustained effectiveness,’’ She advised.

    Responding, Gov. Masari commended the minister and NEMA for providing the support, saying it would go a long way in reducing the challenges faced by victims.

    Represented by the Speaker of the state’s House of Assembly, Alhaji Tasi’u Maigari, the governor assured that government would not relent in efforts to improve peoples’ welfare.

    Fielding questions from newsmen, Director-General of NEMA, Alhaji Mustapha Habib-Ahmed, advised all states to set up local emergency committees to handle disaster management.

    He said the committees should work toward reducing disasters and called on residents to avoid dumping refuse in drainage channels so as to allow free flow of water.