Flooding: Rights group calls on international agencies to help Nigeria

The International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) has called on other international agencies to assist Nigeria in reducing the impact of flooding in the country.

In a statement on Saturday, Duru Hezekiah, IHRC’s head of diplomatic mission in Nigeria, described the flooding in Nigeria as unfortunate, adding that this is the country’s worst flood-related disaster in a decade.

According to NAN, Hezekiah called on international agencies to assist Nigeria in tackling the disaster.

“I am deeply distressed by the scope of devastation and suffering that has befallen Nigerians by the rising floodwaters which have recorded human and material losses with several homes submerged in Kogi, Anambra, Bauchi, Gombe States among others,” the statement reads.

“Apart from submerging houses and farmlands, critical infrastructures such as schools, healthcare centers, police stations, banks, and offices were also affected; a situation that made the state governments shut down schools in the riverine areas.

“It is undoubtedly imperative that the Federal, State and Local Governments share the responsibility for protecting their citizens from disasters, and for helping them to recover when a disaster like this strikes.

“In these cases, however, the disaster requires a more comprehensive approach, disaster relief, and emergency assistance void of political, ethnic, or religious discrimination to effectively support state and local governments and their citizens.

“In our compassionate plea as an Intergovernmental Diplomatic Organisation, we hereby appeal to other International Agencies – the International Fund for Agricultural Development, EU, NEWMAP and others to come to our aid.”

Hezekiah said it was inhumane for politicians vying for political offices in the 2023 general election to disregard the hardship faced by Nigerians due to the flood while focusing only on their political activities.

“It is creatively challenging to hear politicians inducing how to win the forthcoming elections and not telling us how to win a ravaging pandemic that perhaps attracts a declaration of a national state of disaster.

“A coming together of a people to address a course that has respect for the fundamental human rights of Nigerians is more important now than any political campaign.

“I also urge governors in the states to be accessible and flexible in accepting proposals and partnerships aimed at providing appropriate actions and implementation of participatory emergency plans when made.”