The Kogi State House of Assembly has charged the present administration to intervene by directing the Kogi State Property Management to suspend its efforts to immediately remove flood victims from the Estate for the time being.
In a motion of urgent public importance calling on Kogi State Government to Come to the Aid of Flood Victims in Felele Estate, the lawmaker representing Lokoja I
Hon. Bin-Ebaiya Shehu Tijani
appealed to the Kogi State Government to give financial grant to the victims to enable them rent another apartment for themselves.
The lawmaker also urged the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to liaise with relevant agencies to intervene in the affairs of the flood victims.
His words “The Felele Estate was built with counterpart funds of the Federal Mortgage Bank and the Kogi State Government through Kogi State Investment and Property Limited.
“The House to note that the camp was officially declared open by the State Government though the State Emergency Management (SEMA) on the 10th of September, 2017, as a place of temporary habitation for the flood vicams of that year to provide them with succor towards relieving them of the hardship caused by the disasters
“It will equally interest the House to note that the immediate past Governor, Alh. Yahaya Bello, in ameliorating the suffering of the victims, sank boreholes in the Estate to cater for their water needs.
“In appreciation, the over 850 victims mobilized themselves to work for the re-election of the APC government at all levels; including organizing a prayer session for the success of the present Government.
“Sadly, the victims are today tagged illegal occupants by the Kogi State Property Management Limited and are mandated to vacate the Estate within a short time as the buildings are put up for sale.
“Currently the victims, who hardly afford three meals a day, are left to look for another shelter for themselves”.
Lawmakers in their various remarks aligned themselves in the prayers of the motion.
In his rulings, the Speaker of the house Rt. Hon. Umar Yusuf directed the Clerk to communicate the resolution of Assembly to the appropriate authority.