Tinubu okays N108b for states to tackle flooding, erosion
Throwing money at the problem in the typical Nigerian fashion, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved N108 billion for the states to combat natural disasters. Each state is entitled to N3 billion. This is coming on the heels of massive flooding ravaging states in the North. Many Southern states are at risk. Besides flooding, erosion is rampant across the country, especially in the Southeast. Kaduna is also currently battling with erosion. Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has also predicted more rainfall and likelihood of more flooding as the year rolls to an end. Borno State Governor Babagana Umara Zulum, whose capital city is reeling under the flooding that followed the collapse of Alau Dam water channels, confirmed yesterday he had received N3 billion from the Federal Government to battle the humanitarian crisis. According to him, no fewer than one million people have been displaced by the gory situation. Vice President Kashim Shettima, who temporarily relocated to Maiduguri to support the efforts of the state government to assist victims of the flooding, returned to the Presidential Villa and hosted House of Representatives Speaker Abbas Tajudeen yesterday. Shettima described the situation in Maiduguri as a “national calamity”. Shettima told the speaker: “The President has shown his zeal, willingness and commitment to partner with the states towards addressing these issues. “Recently, he approved the release of N3 billion to each state of the federation to address some of these challenges so that all parts of the federation should have buy-in and belonging.” The speaker promised that the House would give all necessary support to assist the victims. He said: “We in the National Assembly are looking all through to see what kind of support we will give to the people affected.. “Insha Allah, it will come to pass, and people will go back to their normal lives and businesses as if it did not happen because we and you will make sure that we provide all the palliatives for them to regain their means of livelihood.” Shettima praised Abbas for his “stellar leadership in the National Assembly”, adding that despite having nearly 70 per cent of the members as newly sworn-in, the Speaker has been able to keep the flag flying.
Flood: NEMA Distributes Relief Materials To 8,757 Households In Kaduna
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) at the weekend, commenced the distribution of relief materials to 8,757 households affected by the 2022 flood disaster in Kaduna State. The Director-General of the agency, Mr Mustapha Ahmed, said during the distribution in Kaduna, that the gesture was under the Special National Economic and Livelihood Emergency Intervention (SNELEI). Ahmed, who was represented by Ms Ngozi Echeazu, State Team supervisor, SNELEI, said that the distribution was aimed at bringing succour to the affected households in the state. He identified the items as food and non-food items, such as rice, beans, sorghum, blankets, mats, mosquito nets and detergents. Other non-food items include sewing machines, grinding machines, water pumps for dry-season farmers, sprayers, fertilizers, herbicides and seedlings. He explained that the agricultural inputs were given to take farmers back to the farms, stimulate crop production and safeguard national food security in the middle of economic downturn. The DG added that the livelihood support was to help artisans to improve their businesses and grow the economy. He called on the beneficiaries to avoid selling the items and destroy the good intention of the Federal Government. In her remarks, the Deputy Governor of the state, Dr Hadiza Balarabe, commended the Federal Government for the gesture. Balarabe, who was represented by Mr James Kanyip, Deputy Chief of Staff to Gov. Uba Sani, Office of the Deputy Governor, said that the items would assist the beneficiaries in rebuilding their lives. She also advised the beneficiaries against selling the items, which she said was to alleviate poverty and empower them economically. The deputy governor also called on the distributors of the relief materials to ensure that only the targeted persons and the vulnerable were given the items. Also, Mr Usman Mazabu, Executive Secretary, Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency, thanked the Federal Government for approving the relief assistance to the victims. Muazu assured that the relief materials would be transparently and jointly distributed to the affected persons by officials of NEMA, SEMA and representatives of the community and other relevant stakeholders.
Flood Alert: 13 States, 50 Communities To Witness Heavy Rainfall, Flooding -NEMA
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has said 13 states and 50 communities, mainly up North, are likely to witness heavy rainfall that may lead to flooding between September 13 and 17. Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, Lagos Territorial Coordinator, NEMA, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos. Farinloye listed the states and communities to include Kano State, with communities like Sumaila and Kunchi, likely to be affected. He also said that Kebbi State, with communities like Argungu, and Katsina State, with Bindawa, Jibia, Kaita, Katsina communities would be affected. Other states he said were Niger, with Kontagora, Mashegu, and New Bussa communities, as well as Kwara State, and Kosubosu community. “Zamfara State, with such communities as Kaura Namoda and Shinkafi; Bauchi State, with Bajoga, Darazo, Kirfi, Azare, Jama ‘are, Itas, Misau; Taraba, with Bali, Donga, Lau, Serti, Mutum-Biyu, Yorro, and Borno State, with Briyel, Biu, Dikwa, Kukawa will be affected,” he said. He also said that Adamawa with Ganye, Mubi, Demsa, Jimeta, Mayo Belwa, Numan, Shelleng, Song, communities as well as Yobe, with Dapchi, Gashua, Geidam, Kanamma, Machina, Potiskum would be affceted. Gombe State with Nafada and Jigawa, with Dutse, Gumel, Gwaram, Miga communities were the other states and communities the territorial coordinator said would be affected. Farinloye added that due to the rise in the water levels of Rivers Benue and Niger, communities along the two Rivers, up to Bayelsa were advised to take precautionary measures in the coming days. He acknowledged the National Flood Early Warning Systems (FEWS) Central Hub, Federal Ministry of Environment Abuja in its predictions.
Flood Warning: NEMA identifies 19 states, 56 communities at risk in August
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has issued a flood alert, indicating that 19 states and 56 communities throughout Nigeria are under the threat of heavy rainfall that could potentially lead to flooding in the upcoming month. In a statement released by Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, NEMA’s Lagos Territorial Coordinator, on Monday, this warning highlights the urgent need for preparedness and precautionary measures. The states and communities identified are as follows: Delta: Aboh, Ekiti State; Ado Ekiti, Ondo State; Akure, Idanre, Ifon, Iju Itaogbolu, Ogbese, Owo, Owena, Ondo Others he said include: Lagos State; Apapa, Badagry, Eti Osa, Ikeja, Ikorodu, Ikoyi, Lagos Island, Ojo Lagos, Surulere; Anambra; Atani; Ogun; Ifo, Ota, Sagamu; Nasarawa State; Lafia, Wamba and Cross River; Ikom, Ogoja Farinloye also listed Bauchi State: Jamaare, Misau, Azare, Itas ,Kafin Madaki,Kari, Kirfi, Tafawa Balewa, Katagum; Jigawa; Hadejia, Miga; Osun State; Ilesa, Oshogbo and Kwara; Kosubosu. The rest are Zamfara; Anka, Bungudu, Gusau; Sokoto State; Goronyo; Adamawa; Numan, Shelleng; Taraba: Serti; Benue; Ito, Katsina-Alan, Vande-Ikya; Imo State: Oguta, Orlu and Abia State; Ugba. NEMA’s Farinloye further emphasized the critical importance of taking preventive measures and staying informed about weather updates to mitigate potential risks. Residents in these identified states and communities are advised to be vigilant and prepare for potential flooding situations as the rainy season continues this month.
Adamawa Lootings: Fintiri imposes 24-hour curfew
Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa on Sunday declared a 24-hour curfew on the state with immediate effect. The governor made the declaration in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Humwashi Wonosikou in Yola. The curfew followed wide-scale looting and attacks on citizens by hoodlums. According to him, the situation has assumed a dangerous dimension as hoodlums in Yola attack people with machetes and broke into business premises and homes carting away property. “With the curfew imposed, there will be no movement throughout the state. “Only those on essential duties with valid identification would be permitted to move around during the period of the curfew,” he added. Fintiri appealed to law-abiding residents to comply with the directive, warning that anyone caught contravening the order would be arrested and prosecuted. Hundreds of hoodlums had broken into Federal and State government storage facilities and looted food and non-food items in Yola. Mr Ladan Ayuba, Head of Operations National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said that the armed hoodlums looted bags of Rice, Maize, Corn, and Beans, as well as Generators, wrappers, mattresses, and plastic buckets among others from the NEMA facility. .He said that the hoodlums also vandalized and looted facilities at the NEMA office that was recently reconstructed and furnished. It was gathered that the hoodlums attempted to break into a silo but were not successful and later moved to attack other government storage facilities. At least three of the hoodlums were believed to have died while several others were arrested. SP Suleiman Nguroje, the Police Public Relations Officer in Adamawa confirmed the incident, saying that Police and other security operatives have been deployed to protect critical assets and infrastructure.
Disaster Management: NEMA, NAF strengthens partnership
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Nigerian Air Force (NAF), have pledged to strengthen partnerships for effective response to imminent flood and disaster management. The organisations made the pledge, when the Director-General of NEMA, Mr Mustapha Ahmed and his management team, visited the Chief of Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Hassan Abubakar in Abuja. Ahmed said that the decision was necessary in view of the flood forecast by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), and other forms of disaster that may likely affect some parts of the country. “With the increasing rate of occurrence and severity of disasters in Nigeria and across the world, it has become necessary for NEMA to strengthen its partnership with the Nigerian Air Force. “This will enable us to save lives during emergencies and promote disaster risk reduction in communities. “The unpredictable rainy season, which has started to wreak havoc in some states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory is a confirmation of NIMET flood prediction. “Therefore, the time has come when NEMA will require the support of the Nigerian Airforce, particularly in the areas of search and rescue, transportation of personnel, equipment and other life-saving relief items,” he said. Responding, Abubakar assured NEMA that the Nigerian Air Force would continue to provide the needed support when required, as part of its responsibilities. He said that the Nigerian Air Force, would avail its 22 Disaster Response Units, located in different parts of the country to support NEMA’s disaster management activities.
Many trapped as four-storey building collapses in Abuja
A four-storey building under construction in the Life Camp area of Abuja in the Federal Capital Territory, on Monday reportedly collapsed, with many feared trapped under its rubble. The incident occurred at about 4pm while workers were on the construction site in the swampy Dape Area near the Berger Clinic. Officials of the FCT Fire Service and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) are reportedly at the site of the collapse to rescue victims from the collapsed building. Meanwhile, the Head of Operations of the FCT Fire Service, Amiola Adebayo, who confirmed the incident to our correspondent, said rescue operations were still ongoing and could not yet confirm any casualties from the incident More details later…
2,371 stranded Nigerians evacuated from Sudan- NEMA
The Federal Government has so far evacuated 2,371 Nigerians stranded in war-torn Sudan. Director of Special Duties, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Dr Onimode Bandele gave the figure in Abuja on Saturday when 125 stranded Nigerians arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport. The batch was the 15th set of Nigerians airlifted by the Federal Government back to the country. They were airlifted from Port Sudan. Bandele, who welcomed the returnees on behalf of the Federal Government, said there were no more stranded Nigerian women and children in Sudan. He said arrangements were already made to airlift the remaining Nigerians stranded in Sudan who are mainly male, adding that another batch of evacuees would arrive later on Saturday. Representatives of the Ministries of Humanitarian Affairs, Foreign Affairs, NEMA, National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, among others were on ground to receive the returnees.