by Celica ogezi
Flooding, though a natural occurence that are beyond human imaginations, Yelwa said he is of the strong opinion that the relevant government agencies can leverage on the positive sides of the flooding in some state by creating irrigation outlets along the water corridors and riverline communities to also boost their fishing businesses.
The N-HYPPADEC MD while briefing journalists on the recent flooding which claimed seven lives and properties worth several millions of Naira destroyed in some riverline communities in Niger state, said the level of devastations caused by this year’s flooding demands declaration of a state of emergency by the Presidency.
“Nearly 200 lives lost, 208, 000 people in 28 out of 36 states of the federation and washed away many homes and farmlands”, the N-HYPPADEC MD said.
Whole calling for a holistic approach to tackling issues of flooding, Yelwa said, “It is important to note that 80% of the worst hit states are N-HYPPADEC member states as a result of their location and electricity generation activities”.
He said, “Preliminary reports from our officers revealed that in Benue state so far 634 communities have been affected with nearly 30, 000 farmlands washed away. In Kebbi state, 6, 959 households have been affected with about 10, 000 farmlands washed away”.
Yelwa regretted that flooding could hamper the federal government’s food security if not properly controlled, adding however that with proper articulation flooding can be a blessing in disguise if the relevant authorities acted wisely and timely as irrigatiion outlets along corridors and fishing can be harnessed.
The HYPPADEC boss who said 40 to 50 percent of its allocation has gone into the year’s flooding demands and therefore called on President Tinubu to declare a state of emergency to enable it check further devastations.
