Recent flood disaster in South Africa.
ARMSTRONG ALLAHMAGANI, Bauchi
Following the floods that ravaged parts of Bauchi state and killed many people, the federal government has donated 3,543.37 metric tonnes (118 trailer load) of food items for distribution to households
The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Development, Sadiya Farouq, who announced this on Saturday in Bauchi at the distribution of COVID-19 palliatives and flood advocacy to the State, commiserated with the government, people and victims of the disaster.
She said that preliminary report on the (flood) incidents indicate the need for relief intervention pointing out that the National Emergency Management Agency has been activated to assess the situation and provide necessary support to the affected persons to cushion the effects of the disaster.
“Let me begin by conveying the sympathy of the Federal Government to the Government and people of Bauchi State over the recent flood and windstorms that occurred in parts of the state like Darazo, Jama’are and Shira. It is sad that these have resulted in the loss of lives, damage to properties, destruction of livelihoods and farmlands.
“I am here on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, to present to you, assorted grains from the National Food Reserve, approved as palliative for distribution to vulnerable persons affected by the recent restriction of movement to curtail the spread of COVID-19 pandemic,” she said.
She added that: “We all know that the outbreak of the pandemic has brought about changes and challenges to our normal ways of living. Most obvious of this is on the vulnerable persons that depend largely on others for their daily survival.
“Such persons are the aged, people living with disabilities and persons of concerns, that deserve support in terms of basic necessities including food.”
According to her, the food items brought to the state are 1,632.04 Metric tonnes of maize (54 trailer load), 205.66 metric tonnes of millet (7 trailer load) and 1,705.67 metric tonnes of sorghum (57 trailer load).
She said the food items are meant to cater for the needs of 70, 867 households across the state.
Farouq said that although Bauchi State is known to be one of the major food producers in the country with the citizens engaged in farming activities, however, the annual occurrences of flood have continued to threaten this potential.
He said that flood has become a recurring experience in Nigeria recalling that after the 2012 devastating flood, a similar one occurred in 2018 leading to a declaration of disaster emergency in many states.
She said that though climate change has been largely blamed for this increasing phenomenon, however, it is the responsibility of the Government and the people to evolve strategies to minimize losses through adherence to warning alerts, early preparation and proper response.
“May I draw the attention of Your Excellency to the 2020 Seasonal Rainfall Prediction and the Annual Flood Outlook. These documents have forecasted flood situation for different parts of the country.
“The Annual Flood Outlook informed that 102 Local Government Areas, in 28 States fall within the highly probable risk areas, while 275 Local Government Areas in the 36 states of the Federation including the Federal Capital Territory fall within the moderately probable flood risk areas.
“The remaining 397 Local Government Areas fall within the low probable flood risks areas. Unfortunately, the predicted floods have started to occur in many parts of the country, including Bauchi State. Therefore, it is imperative to activate all plans and measures against the prediction as the season moves towards the peak,” she stated.
The Minister said that the highly probable flood risk area in Bauchi State is Zaki Local Government Area; while the probable flood risk areas are Alkaleri, Bauchi, Jama’are, Itas/Gadau, Tafawa Balewa, Shira, Ganjuwa, Kirfi and Bogoro Local Government Areas.
According to her, the recent flood incidences in parts of the state affirms the need for serious and urgent actions to be taken to safeguard lives and property against the predicted flood.
She called on the Bauchi State Government to take proactive and necessary mitigative measures in addressing these issues, by directing the State Emergency Management Agency, frontline Local Government Authorities and other response Agencies to put in place preparedness actions.
She added that other measures include carrying out public enlightenment campaigns, targeting vulnerable communities to undertake mitigation actions and prepare for evacuation to safe ground and identifying high grounds for possible Internally Displaced Persons camps, to shelter evacuated communities.
The Minister said the Federal Government through the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development has taken note of this year’s prediction and has been working with stakeholders to mitigate the possible effect of the flooding.
Bauchi state deputy governor, Sen. Baba Tela, who received the items on behalf of the State government expressed gratitude to the federal government for coming to the aid of the victims of the disaster.
He pledged the state government’s commitment towards ensuring that justice is fine in the distribution of the relief items to those they were meant for.