Mustapha Maihaja, director
general of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has declared the
flooding in four states as national disasters.
The affected states are Kogi,
Niger, Delta and Anambra.
The agency has also placed eight
other states on its watch list.
Addressing journalists on Monday,
Yahya Bello, Kogi state governor, said 33 camps have been opened for internally
displaced persons (IDPs) as the state is the worst hit.
“In 2012, we were worst hit, we
are praying that the situation will not exceed that this year. We are normally
proactive to sensitize the people and evacuate them to high ground,” he said.
“We have created over 33 camps in
Kogi State. As I speak with you, between nine to ten local governments are
underwater, you can imagine the pressure on our resources.
“So, we are doing our best in
collaboration with federal agencies and security agencies to make sure that we
evacuate them to high grounds, IDP camps and provide security to them and
relief materials including medicals.”
Also, President Muhammadu Buhari
had directed NEMA to declare flooding in Kogi a national disaster after a
warning by the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency that Rivers Benue and Niger
had almost reached levels that resulted in flooding in 2012.
The letter, which was signed by
Abba Kyari, chief of staff to the president, had also directed that the
disaster response unit of the military be activated for possible search and
rescue victims.
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