SSG: 17,000 communities submerged by flood in Niger

Ahmed Matane, secretary to the Niger state government, says about 17,000 communities have been affected by flood in the state.

Matane spoke during an on-the-spot assessment of the flood situation in Mokwa local government area of the state.

Local government areas including Mokwa, Lapai, Edati, Lavun, Shiroro, Munya and Wushishi were part of the communities submerged by floods.

Matane also said about 60,000 people in the local government have been affected by the floods which led to the collapse of houses and destruction of farmlands.

He said the state government has begun the distribution of 2,400 bags of assorted grains to communities affected in Mokwa to cushion the effect of the flood.

The SSG assured the people of Muregi, worst hit by floods, that government would expedite action towards relocating them to a new area before the end of the Abubakar Bello-led administration.

The SSG was accompanied on the visit by Abdullahi Gbara and Salihu Tama, members of the state house of assembly representing Lavun and Edati constituencies, and other government officials.

In Bauchi, Bala Mohammed, the governor, had said at least 25 people have been killed and 22 others injured in flooding incidents across the state.

The governor added that over 5,000 houses and farmlands were also destroyed, saying the flooding may pose a threat to food production in the state.

Earlier, the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) had asked states to prepare for flood in communities bordering the River Niger to prevent loss of lives and property.

The NIHSA warned that the flood levels at the hydrological stations monitored in Niamey (Niger Republic) and Malanville (Benin Republic) have gotten to the red alert zone, and advised states to make adequate plans for timely evacuation of people to safe and higher grounds in the event of flooding.