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…As Gov. calls for establishment of “Special Intervention Fund’ for States affected by Perennial flooding
Olabode Adaramola
Governor Abubakar Sani Bello of Niger State has called for emergency measure by the Federal Government in form of Special Intervention Fund that will assist states ravaged by flood and the consequential effect of the spillage of Kainji, Shiroro, and Jebba Hydro Power Dams.
Speaking to Journalists in Minna, the Governor disclosed that no fewer than 63,571 individuals in about 150 Villages, across 20 out of the 25 local government areas of the state as well as 7,619 houses have been submerged and about 15,562 people displaced from their original places of abode by the black flood, stressing that the spillover from the dams were largely responsible for the disaster.
He stated further that the flood has not only washed away the N80 billion investment by the Sunti Sugar Company and rendered the staff and hundreds of Farmers jobless in the state, but that many people have lost their lives as a result of the flood disaster.
Governor Sani Bello said the damage caused by the flood was beyond the capacity of the State government to handle, hence the call for urgent intervention from the Federal Government and International agencies.
“The flood has been excessive this year. Definitely, a lot of support will be required to assist those communities because they’ve lost their means of livelihood completely. It is our responsibility to do whatever we can, no matter how little, to support them”, he stated.
Governor Sani Bello further attributed this year’s flooding in the state, to the opening of the spillway gates of the Kainji Dam, which he said was spilling over 6,000 metric litres of water per second noting that it was first of such action in the history of the State.
The Governor also called on the federal government to energize the Hydro Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) by making it functional adding, that doing so will reduce the hardships faced by the states affected by perennial flooding.
“I am in consultation with my colleagues in Kwara, Kebbi and Kogi States, on how to ensure the immediate take-off of the commission and we will not relent until HYPPADEC becomes operationally functional”, he added.
