By Attah Ede
At least 29 persons have reportedly died, with 321,000 houses and 858,000 farmlands destroyed following heavy flooding that occurred in 16 of the 21 local government areas of Kebbi state.
State Commissioner for Information, Yakubu Ahmed disclosed this at a news conference held in Birmin the Kebbi state capital.
He explained if the authorities in Nigeria failed to render assistance to the affected areas where rice, maize guinea corn and other crops were destroyed by the flood, there might be shortage of food in the state and Nigeria at large.
“The NiMET predicted that Kebbi might be worst hit by flood. The state had suffered severe disaster from flooding in 16 LGAs due to the water released from Goronyo dam and the convergence waters in River Rima and River Kaa which flow into the state through River Niger.
“Even though government has taken measures to minimise the flooding in the state, the people still suffer flooding.
“Only 5 out of the 16 local governments of the state are minimally affected. The flood has destroyed farmlands, bridges and thousands of households.
“On the number of deaths, we have lost seven persons in Shanga, eight in Maiyama, five in Kalgo, seven in Jega and two in Birnin Kebbi so far,” he said.
“The severity of the damage the flood caused to households, farmlands, bridges and access roads in many communities of the state, showed that the government alone cannot shoulder the responsibilities.”
Yakubu appealed to the federal government, cooperate organisations and individuals to extend support to the state in mitigating the effect of the flood
