Lawmakers seek FG interventions on flood incidences

Lawmakers on Thursday called on the Federal Government to mitigate the impact of flood in communities at risk along Benue and Niger trough of Nigeria.

The call came to the fore in a motion moved by Honourable Kwamoti Bitrus Laori, representing Numan/Demsa/Lamurde Federal Constituency of Adamawa State and Co-sponsored by seven others.

Hon. Laori noted that flood has become a recurrent phenomenon in Nigeria, particularly in communities along Benue and Niger Trough.

“This consisting of lower, middle and upper regions which stretches across Adamawa, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Taraba States, etc.

“Flood vulnerability assessments by academics and government agencies clearly shows positive relationship exist between the level of communities’ flood vulnerability and livelihood assets”, Laori mentioned.

The Lawmaker is concerned that the June 29th predicted by the 2021 Seasonal Rainfall Prediction (SRP) report of Nigerian Metrological Agency (NIMET) as the earliest onset date for flood in most parts of Northern Nigeria as is fast approaching.

“Coupled with the warning by Nigerian Hydrological Service Agency (NIHSA) that communities along waterways relocate to safe areas”, Laori stated.

Hon. Laori recalled the horrific experience of 2012, when Nigeria witnessed the worst flood disaster in recent history; According to NEMA, 431 lives were lost, 1.3 Million people displaced and forced to live in IDPs camps across the country and property losses running into Trillions of Naira; this has further exacerbated the level of poverty and food insecurity in the region and similar predictions and warnings given at that time were neglected as is the case today.

“Since the establishment of Lagdo Dam in Cameroun Republic in 1982, communities along Benue-Niger Trough have continued to suffer inestimable loss of lives and property without any remedy. Couple with the knowledge that government palliatives hardly reach victims when needed, the impact is likely to be worse coupled with the multiplying effect of widespread insecurity and climate change in the region.

“Government does not appear to be prepared for the unavoidable impending disaster despite several warnings and eminent signs.

“Motions upon motions have been moved and many resolutions passed by this honorable house, without implementation by relevant authorities, the people would continue to remain victims.

“More worrisome is the bureaucratic delays associated with distribution of relief materials to victims of disaster, in critical time of need. This trend makes Government appear insensitive to the plight of the victims as is the practice over the years”, he said.

He emphasized that there is need to urgently prepare to mitigate the adverse socio-economic impact on the people before the real disaster occur.

“This proactive measure is critical if we must ensure effective response in this era of COVID 19 Pandemic and the prevailing food crisis and other forms of insecurity threatening livelihood throughout the Nation”, he stated.

The House of Representatives, accordingly urged the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, National Emergency Management Agency, National Commission for Refugee, Migration and the Internally Displaced Persons to adequately prepare a response plan for the imminent disaster by stock piling relief materials to palliate the suffering of the victims in good time.

It also urge to the Federal Government Ecological Fund Office to work out a lasting solution to the ecological problems in flood disaster prone areas across the Country.

The mandated the Committees on Ecological Fund, Environment, Emergency & Disaster Preparedness, Water Resources and Internally Displaced Persons to assess the level of preparedness of all relevant agencies towards ensuring timely and effective response to victims of disaster.

Just as it mandated all relevant committees to review past Motions and Resolutions on flood disaster with the view to harmonizing all recommendations that address the root cause of the perennial flood disaster and implement such in order to save the nation the huge cost of disaster response annual expenditure;