Kogi Government has again called on the Federal Government and the international donor agencies to come to the aid of the state as flood has sacked over 200 communities.
Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kingsley Fanwo, who made the call at Kotonkarfe during an inspection visit to communities affected within Kogi Local Government, yesterday, said the distress call became imperative, considering the fact that a major “humanitarian crisis is brewing in the state. Close to two million people are currently homeless in the 200 communities affected by flood in Kogi.
“As a government, we feel the National Emergency Management Agency cannot afford to wait any longer since the state is already overwhelmed. We are in a dire emergency situation at the moment and this is sad…
“As we speak, nine of the 21 local government areas in the state are affected, which is almost 50 percent of the number of local government areas.
“We have opened about 68 Internally Displaced persons’ (IDP) camps but they can’t hold that massive population. Schools, hospitals and other infrastructure have been destroyed completely.
“Seeing the aged and little children in this kind of distress is a horrible sight. We did not lose any life because we activated the early warning and enlightenment plan.
“We are expending huge resources daily but it is inadequate. We call on the Federal Government, international donor agencies, nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) and philanthropists to come to our aid.”
The commissioner said the government had earlier set up a flood disaster response team under the leadership of the deputy governor.
Fanwo, however, assured the victims of the government’s support in the face of the natural disaster.
Kogi, Lokoja, Adavi, Ofu, Ajaokuta, Idah, Ibaji are some of the affected local government areas.