By: Joshua Adinoyi 

People living in flood-prone Areas in Kogi State have been advised to move to hinterlands to avoid lost of lives and property.

The Ag. Executive Secretary, State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) in Kogi State, Mrs. Margaret Akuh, made the call in an interview in her Office at the State Secretariat, Lokoja.

Mrs. Akuh said the call became imperative in view of the spilling waters at the Kanji and Jebba dams as seen in a viral video and the earlier predictions of flood by NiMET.

The Kogi State SEMA Boss said flood as a natural disaster has in the past rendered many homeless and led to lost of lives and property, calling on those in flood prone areas in the State to take immediate action to avert all unforeseen circumstances.

She however mentioned that cultural believe, where some residence wait for certain signs such as unpleasant noise of night frogs before believing that there maybe flood, were part of the constraints facing field workers of the Agency.

She implore traditional rulers in the Communities to speak to their subjects, saying that the State Government has made camps available for people to move to avoid being flood victims.

“That there was prediction last year but we didn’t experience flood in the State does not mean we should hold on to that thinking same will happen this year

“Already, we are seeing that the waters are rising and some other States are experiencing flood disaster already so wisdom demands that we in Kogi, especially those living in areas that are prone to flood act swiftly

“Let us move to hinterlands now because the impact of flood is always very unpleasant, it leads to lost of lives, property, farmlands, among others” she said.

Mrs. Margaret noted that SEMA in the State have been assured of the State government‘s support, stressing that the Agency will live up to expectations.

The Kogi SEMA Boss pointed out that the Agency has been partnering with other Agencies like the Christian Aid and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) to Sensitize those living in flood prone Communities in Lokoja and it’s environs.

She explained that The SEMA in collaboration with Christian Aid contingency plan which reduces the impact of disaster and also help make plans before hand among others. Also gave

Mrs. Margaret Akuh said staff of SEMA has enjoyed capacity Training from an international Non Governmental Organization, Christian Aid on Contingency Plan which reduces the impact of disaster and also help make plans before hand among others, stressing that flyers and posters containing flood awareness and safety tips are other benefits from the Christian Aid to Kogi SEMA.

Mrs. Akuh said she has been in touch with NIMET and the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) for relevant Information which she has in turn, been disseminating to all Desk Officers and other relevant stakeholders across the State.

Mrs. Margaret Akuh pointed out that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in collaboration with the Kogi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), organized a Stakeholders Workshop on Flood Risk Preparedness, Mitigation and Awareness in the State in May this year.

She explained that all the Desk Officers from the Nine Local Government Areas that are prone to flood as well as critical stakeholders from various Ministries in the State attended the Workshop where they were charged to pass the information gotten from the Workshop to their various Communities.

The Ag. Executive Secretary of SEMA in Kogi State added that the Agency in conjunction with the National Orientation Agency (NOA), also carried out Sensitization Tour as part of efforts to create awareness of impending flood to those living in flood prone Areas.

Residents of Ganaja Village, Gadummo, Adankolo and Sarkin Noma are those that have been visited so far during the ongoing Sensitization.