The Kogi State Governor, Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo, Tuesday, visited the Adankolo IDP Camp to identify with persons and families displaced by the flood ravaging the State.
The Governor who was accompanied by his Deputy, Comrade Joel Oyibo Salifu and other top Government officials, also used the occasion to distribute relief materials procured by the State Government to the victims of flood, assuring them of his commitment to seeing to their welfare.
The Executive Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency, Alhaji Mouktar Atimah, thanked the Governor for his prompt intervention to cater for the needs of the flood victims. Atima said the presence of the Governor was a morale booster for the displaced persons.
The Governor thanked the Flood Response Team under the leadership of the Deputy Governor for their untiring efforts to ensure Kogites affected by flood are not left to suffer.
“I have come here to identify with you. It is my responsibility to mobilize government resources to cater for your needs and we shall do whatever we can to ensure we stand by you in this trying period.
“I thank the Response Team for working tirelessly to cater for the needs of our people here. You are my people and I will come to you wherever you are to identify with you, stand by you and cater for your needs”, the Governor said.
Kogi State has been ravaged by a devastating flood that has thrown thousands of houses under the water and displaced over a million people with the water level still rising.
One of the displaced persons who spoke exclusively to Kogi State.gov.ng, Abdul Isah said the Governor had shown that he cares about the welfare of the displaced persons.
“My entire family is here as we have lost everything to the flood. Governor Ododo has shown he is Governor of all by coming here today not only to give us food and other relief materials, but to have a first hand information on how we are struggling here.
“For the first time in days, I was able to smile because my Governor is here. I voted for him and today, he has proven that our votes were not wasted. We need a lot of support as I do not even know where to go from here. My house will surely collapse after months of being soaked in this flood”.
The State Government was able to activate it’s Early Warning Plan through enlightenment to ensure people move to safer grounds.
Nine out of the 21 Local Government Areas in the State are affected by the flood.
The State Government had earlier called on the Federal Government and other international bodies to come to aid of the affected persons, saying the situation is “devastating”.