Flood has overtaken major roads in Ajaokuta, Lokoja and Koton Karfe Local Government Areas of Kogi State, which made it impossible for travellers to pass through Lokoja to Abuja or Abuja to Lokoja thereby creating untold hardship.
While the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) has released boats to help provide services for stranded travellers, travellers who are keen on travelling have been advised to take alternate routes as the water level is expected to take another two or more days to subside.
Alternative routes for the Lokoja-Abuja Expressway are the Suleja-Bida-Mokwa road for travellers going to the South-West region of the country and the Nasarawa-Oweto Bridge-Adoka-Otupka axis for those travelling to the South-South/South-East regions.
NIWA provides boats, ferry services to flood victims in Kogi
Meanwhile, NIWA says it has released boats to provide ferry services for stranded travellers in Ganaja Village, Lokoja and Koton Karfe area of Kogi.
NIWA Managing Director George Moghalu said that the measure was aimed at easing the sufferings of travellers from outside and within the state caused by the flooding.
Mr Jibril Dardau, the NIWA General Manager, Corporate Affairs, announced this in a statement issued in Lokoja on Thursday in Lokoja.
The general manager said that the directive became imperative in view of the fact that the current flooding surpassed that of 2012, causing havoc in several communities in Kogi.
“With the NIWA gauge readers in Lokoja, the 2022 flood level is reading 13. 22 metres as against 12. 84 metres flood reading level of 2012.
“This clearly shows that this year’s flood level surpasses that of 2012 flood level which makes it dangerous and frightening.
“It’s unfortunate that the flood has overtaken some major roads in Ajaokuta, Lokoja and Koton Karfe Local Government Areas of Kogi, thereby impeding normal and easy movements by motorists and commuters.
“The flood has made the highways impassable for travelers from or through Lokoja to Abuja thereby creating gridlocks and serious hardship on Nigerians,” he said.
According to him, NIWA in conjunction with the Boat Owners Association, has been providing succour to the victims in compliance with the safety guidelines of wearing life jackets, avoiding overloading, over speeding and night sailing.
He, however, appealed to travelers and boat operators to keep to the safety rules and regulations to avoid any eventuality.
Flood-ravaged Kogi LGA seeks FG, state’s intervention
Meanwhile, the indigenes of Ibaji Local Government Area (LGA) of Kogi, under the aegis of Ibaji Unity Forum (IUF) have appealed to the Federal and State Governments for urgent intervention to ameliorate the suffering of the flood victims in the area.
The President of IUF, Mr Stephen Uchola, made the appeal after he led officials of the organisation to visit some affected communities in Ibaji on Tuesday.
Uchola urged the Federal and Kogi Governments to urgently take necessary steps to rescue thousands of people trapped in different communities in the area due to the ravaging flood disaster.
He claimed that since the outbreak of the devastating flood that submerged the entire local government and rendered the residents homeless, there had not been any assistance from the government and its agencies for the victims.
Uchola said that many of the victims were in danger of losing their lives as they were sick without drugs, food and shelter.
He added that many had remained trapped in their communities as all the roads in the local government had been taken over by the flooding.
“What we saw at the various places we visited necessitated this urgent call on the various arms of government, non-governmental organisations, philanthropists and donor agencies to come to the aid of the victims.
”They have lost everything to the flood and are battling to survive the disaster.
“We visited some communities on Monday and Tuesday and will continue on Wednesday to cover the entire 10 wards in Ibaji LGA.
“The 10 wards – Onyedega, Iyano, Ujeh, Ayah, Ojila, Odeke, Akpanyo, Unale, Ejule and Analo have been devastated by flood.
”Dangerous reptiles have taken over the flooded houses and six deaths have been reported so far,” he said.
The IUF president noted that in Aniocha in Ojila Ward, a 3-year-old child fell into the river and died, adding that the casualty figure was low because many of the people could swim.
He said that thousands of people in the area, including children, are sick, stranded and eager to leave the area but could not because the volunteers using wooden boats to evacuate them could not do much.
”Having lost their source of livelihood, they are now helpless and praying for relief assistance, especially food, drugs, clothing and shelter.
”If these are not provided urgently, from what we experienced, many will not survive this harsh condition.
“Unfortunately, those already evacuated to Idah town and some neighbouring states are also suffering and are finding it difficult to cope, with some of them wearing one dress since they were rescued.
”Many of them have no place to sleep; their condition is very pathetic and they are crying for help,” Uchola said.
He called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and Kogi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), to urgently intervene and evacuate the victims to safe places and provide much-needed support to the local government.
“We are sending this Save-Our-Soul message to President Muhammadu Buhari and Gov. Yahaya Bello as well as NEMA to come to the rescue of our people.
”These people cannot help themselves under the present circumstances and their survival now depends on support from the government and donors,” he said.
Uchola further appealed to members of the public and kind-hearted individuals to come to the aid of the victims by providing cash donations, relief materials and foodstuffs.
Kogi flood: FCT minister of state seeks emergency intervention
The FCT Minister of State, Dr Ramatu Aliyu, has appealed to the Federal Government to aid the Kogi State Government with relief materials for communities devastated by flooding in some parts of the state.
Mr Austine Elemue, Special Assistant on Media to the minister in a statement, on Thursday in Abuja, said Aliyu made the appeal at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting.
The minister expressed fear of a possible outbreak of communicable diseases if urgent steps were not taken to ameliorate the suffering of the people.
Elemue quoted Aliyu as highlighting the importance of the Lokoja and Abuja expressway as a major link between the North and Southern parts of the country.
She expressed concern that significant man hours were being wasted on the road due to the gridlock caused by the flood.
The minister said: “Access to shops and hospitals are now by canoes and ferry boats. Houses were submerged to the roof-top, while smaller buildings were completely submerged.
“We fear an outbreak of diseases. We need medical attention. Some have no food or clean drinking water.
“As it is, from the Koton Karfe area before the bridge, commuters spend more than 11 hours on that stretch with no food and water.”
Aliyu, while commending the state government’s decision of evacuating persons living along the low plains, called for urgent federal intervention before the flood got to the upper land as it was already threatening to do.
She said: “In some areas that are very deep, they had to evacuate them to the upper land, but even at that, it keeps coming. As of yesterday, the level had increased.
“Your Excellency, may I use this opportunity to draw your attention and the attention of the Federal Government to seek support for the people of Kogi State and Kogi State itself,” she appealed.’’
Aliyu, who also drew FEC’s attention to the danger the road posed to commuters, however, said that several trucks could have plunged into the river, but for the insight and expertise of the drivers.
“Your Excellency, this is one of the gateway cities and the major road that links the north and south. This portends danger especially for passersby who may not be conversant with the area, like the luxurious bus operators.
“This is because the bridge has been submerged in the last three to four days and that in itself is scary.
“This is the reason I call your attention and the attention of the FEC.
“As I also seek the support of my sister, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, who has always been there for areas in dire need, to also look into this for quick intervention.
“Your Excellency, this, I wish to bring to your attention, that it is a looming danger, from disease outbreak to death, as we have already recorded four casualties”.