From Dan Amasingha, Minna

The Federal Government has been asked to declare a state-of-emergency on the floods ravaging 28 states and claiming about 200 lives, displacing 208,000 persons.

Managing Director of National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC), Alhaji Abubakar Yelwa made the call yesterday in Minna at a press conference.

“As you may be aware, Nigeria records flood every year with varying level of devastation on the lives and means of livelihood of the affected communities.

 He said despite steps to ensure prevention, mitigation and control measures, flood disaster has remained the major and most daring and emergency concern across the country.

According to him, report from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) this year shows that flood has so far claimed nearly 200 lives, displaced over 208,000 people in 28 of the country’s 36 states, and washed away many homes and farmlands.

He added, “It is important here to note that 80% of the worst hit states are N-HYPPADEC member states as a result of their location and electricity generation activities taking place in these states.”

Yelwa noted that the increasing frequency and severity of floods has caused significant harm to lives, property and economic activities in the affected areas.

He explained, “Preliminary report 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 while one life is lost.

“The situation is similar in Gombe, Taraba, Nasarawa, Kogi and Kaduna States. This poses a very serious threat to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s quest for food security and wealth creation in the country.

“Three major bridges on Federal Highways have been affected. They include Mayo-Kam and Jalingo Wukari bridges in Taraba State as well as Manyara bridge in Sabon-Pegi Kwatachi on New Bussa Federal Highway.

“An unidentified number of other critical infrastructure such as culverts and flood drains, schools and health centers are affected.

“It is imperative for the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency to holistically address the menace.”

The N-HYPPADEC Managing Director disclosed that in Niger State, six lives were lost in an incident along Mokwa-New Bussa Federal Highway in Magama and Mashegu Local Government Areas.

The commission, the Managing Director noted has played a significant role in containing the menace of incessant flooding by executing critical flood and erosion control projects which include the 625 meters hydraulic drainage system in Koton Karfe, Kogi State. Other projects executed to curtail flooding are 1.2 kilometres hydraulic drainage system and another 2.5 kilometres desilting on Idye flood plain in Benue State, flood control dykes and retaining walls in Yauri, Kebbi State and Patigi erosion control project in Kwara State.