The destruction of countless numbers of homes began the spate of flooding in various areas of the Kogi State, especially the capital Lokoja and Ajaokuta Local Government Area in late September. This led the state government to swing into prompt action by turning schools into temporary centers which sheltered about 10,000 victims.
The Governor has since then affirmed that the flooding has affected 9 LGAs which cut across the Niger and Benue rivers and these include: Lokoja, Kogi-Koto, Ajaokuta, Ofu, Igalamela-Odolu, Bassa, Idah, Ibaji, and Omala.
He further mentioned that Ibaji is nearly 100% submerged while the other parts are about 30% flooded. Other inland LGAs also have some measure of flooding from smaller rivers and tributaries.
While issuing a statement on the incident on the 1st of October 2022, Governor Yaha Bello expressed his dismay over the happening saying ” I am deeply distressed by the scope if devastation and suffering that has already been visited on our people by the rising floodwaters this year”
He further stated ” we therefore have a serious humanitarian tragedy on our hands, but I wish to assure every person, family and community which has been affected that they are not alone and that help is coming.”
With the assistance extended from national partners, the state government will be in a position to provide shelter at different Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Camps, as well as food, medicine, clothing, monetary donations and security among other things.
While efforts are made towards more sustainable solutions
The Federal Government has reported over 300 deaths and 100,000 displaced people across the nation in September.
Governor Yahaya Bello has noted that 2022 floods have been confirmed as Nigeria’s worst flood disaster in a decade and appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari, to declare a State of National Disaster as a result of the flooding in Kogi and other affected states like it was done in 2018.
The Governor stressed that “the declaration will help to unlock the nation’s latent capabilities to respond more aggressively with more men, money and materials to this harrowing situation”
On October 4th 2022, Nigeria’s National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) reported an unprecedented flood in border areas of Kogi and Enugu State. In Uzo-Umani LGA around 35,200 people have been affected, 53,800 hectares of farm land submerged, along with houses, roads, bridges and public facilities, schools, community health centres, markets and places of worship.
