Kogi seeks help as flood renders 2m residents homeless in 200 communities

The Kogi government says flooding has displaced more than two million people in 200 communities in the state.

Kingsley Fanwo, the commissioner for information and communications, spoke on Monday at Kotonkarfe under Kogi LGA.

The commissioner said “a major humanitarian crisis is brewing” in the state, adding that the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) “cannot afford to wait any longer”.

Fanwo said the state had established a flood disaster response team and called on the federal government and other relevant agencies to support the state in providing relief for victims.

“We are in a dire emergency situation at the moment, and this is sad. The flood disaster here is devastating, and over 200 communities have already been submerged and close to two million people displaced,” NAN quoted the commissioner as saying.

“As we speak, nine of the 21 local government areas in the state are affected, which is almost 50 percent of the number of local government areas.

“We have opened about 68 IDP camps, but they can’t hold that massive population. Schools, hospitals, and other infrastructure have been destroyed completely.

“Seeing the elderly and little children in this kind of distress is a horrible sight. We did not lose any life because we activated the early warning and enlightenment plan.

“We are expending huge resources daily, but it is inadequate. We call on the federal government, international donor agencies, NGOs, and philanthropists to come to our aid.”

The affected LGAs include Kogi, Lokoja, Adavi, Ofu, Ajaokuta, Idah, and Ibaji.