Kogi Assembly Charges State Executive To Provide Adequate Resources For State Waste Management Board For Emergency Evacuation Of Drainages
The Kogi State House of Assembly has called on the State Government to Provide adequate resources for the state Waste Management Board for emergency evacuation of drainages in the state.
In a motion of urgent public importance calling for preparation against the eminent floods as warned by the Ministry of Environment, the lawmaker representing Lokoja two Constituency and Speaker of the House, Aliyu Umar Yusuf, said flooding in Nigeria has become a yearly occurrence that claims lives and destroy a lot of properties.
Aliyu Yusuf noted that flooding which is a complex problem caused by both human and natural factors have all culminated in making matters worse in urban areas especially, Lokoja the State capital.
The lawmaker noted that NATACO area of the Capital city is consistently covered with refuse due to the non-frequent clearing of the refuse.
He called on the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to within one week develop an emergency Response plan on the predicted floods.
Seconding the motion, the member Representing Ajaokuta State Constituency, Jibril Abuh appealed to those living in flood prone areas to move to higher ground.
Member representing Dekina Biraidu, Usman Ochidi and that of Igalamela/Odolu State Constituency, Major Enefola while supporting the motion, appreciated Aliyu Umar Yusuf for identifying the immediate problem of the state, urging members of the House to give their necessary support.
The Deputy Speaker, Comfort Unwuchola Egwuaba who presided over the sitting, thanked the lawmaker for moving the timely motion and appealed to the state government to do the needful to the motion
MATTER OF URGENT PUBLIC IMPORTANCE CALLING FOR PREPARATION AGAINST THE EMINENT FLOODS AS WARNED BY THE THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT
Aware that Flooding in Nigeria has become a yearly occurrence that claims lives and destroy a lot of properties when the rains have persisted, causing property and business disruption in the midst of a crippling economy where rising food costs are making matters worse for Nigerians.
Informed that flooding is a complex problem caused by both human and natural factors arising from excessive rainfall which overwhelms our weak or poor drainage systems; dumping refuse in our drainage; poor waste management; which have all culminated in making matters worse in our urban areas especially, Lokoja the State capital where Infrequent clearing and evacuation of both human and animal wastes often constitute hindrance to free flows of waterways.
Further informed that the NATACO area of the Capital city is consistently covered with refuse due to the non-frequent clearing of the refuse and citizens, who without alternative disposal facilities, take to dumping their wastes and refuse on the road median in hope of the waste management clearing such wastes.
Note that the Federal Government has predicted heavy rains in 22 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The two predictions were issued separately by the National Flood Early Warning Systems Centre of the Federal Ministry of Environment.
The predictions were from August 30 to September 2, 2024; and September 2 to 3, 2024.
The first flood prediction stated that the identified locations and their environs are likely to witness heavy rainfall that may lead to flood within the prediction period from August 30 to September 3, 2024.
Kogi State is one of the States predicted to be affected by the floods, with Lokoja, Idah, Ibaji Local Government areas much likely to experience SEVERE FLOODING.
Already we have began to see the rise in the water levels with The National Inland Water Ways Authority (NIWA) confirming the levels at over 11 meters at the Monitoring point in Lokoja. According to the experts at NIWA, the danger comes when the water level hits 11.6m and above. This means that at anytime now the floods will be HERE.
One of such communities in Lokoja, the state capital where the effects of the floods are frequently felt is the Sarkin Noma area while parts of Kakanda, Kupa and Eggan districts have always have farmlands and residential areas submerged leading to loss of properties and scampering situations.
Further Note that those farming slum at the outskirt of the State capital is inundated by poor drainage and an over spilling of refuse into the drainage canals and if left unchecked, this would block the only drainage and will certainly over flow and cover the community with flood waters. Majority of the people are farmers and fishermen/women and these disasters often cause not only economic losses but also human injuries and fatalities.
PRAYERS
Respected Hon Colleagues, concerned by the hardship associated with flooding in our localities and the need to reduce the pains accompanied by it, it is my plea that this House do resolve as follows;
That, as a matter of urgency, the Waste Management Board be adequately provided with resources to provide emergency evacuation of drainages, including facilities for desilting, in Sarkin Noma and other flood prone areas like Adankolo, Ganaja, in Lokoja metropoly.
The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) should within 1 week develop an emergency Response plan on the predicted floods.
The House Committee on Environment should engage SEMA and Wastes Management board with a view to finding a lasting and sustainable strategy for addressing the issue of waste disposal and flooding in the State capital while also making efforts at providing releave materials to victims from Jamata, Kakanda, Kupa, and Eggan areas.
The affected Local Government Areas in the state should immediately make contingent plans, including provision of Camps for possible resettlement of those that will be affected by these floods.
I so move.
Rt Hon Aliyu Umar Yusuf,
Member Representing Lokoja II Constituency.
Speaker.