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Flood: Rivers, 15 Others On Red Alert
The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has placed 16 states, including Rivers State on red alert asking them to expect more flooding during the rainy season.
The other 15 states are Niger, Lagos, Edo, Imo, Abia, Jigawa, Adamawa, Delta, Cross River, Oyo, Enugu, Kebbi, Nasarawa, Bauchi and the Federal Capital Territory.
Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja, Director- General of the agency, Engr. Clement Nze, said there is high probability that the 36 states of the federation including the FCT would witness different levels of flooding this year.
“River flooding as well as coastal flooding is expected to come into place as the nation approaches the peak of raining season,” he warned, adding that the agency had sustained the Annual Flood Outlook (AFO) to avoid the catastrophe experienced in 2012.
He said this is because flood from the upper reaches of the Niger Basin comprising Guinea, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivorie, Benin, Chad and Cameroon would be arriving Nigeria in about a month’s time.
Nze noted that the agency has been closely monitoring the many flooding incidents taking place across the country as it has led to the loss of lives and properties.
He said it was unfortunate that the flooding incidents were manifesting just as predicted by NIHSA, lamenting that the relevant stakeholders, individuals and state governments have failed to heed the warnings issued before the of flooding in the country.
Nze said this has resulted “in avoidable flooding incidents leading to loss of lives and property, disruption of economic activities and loss of several hectares of agricultural lands.
“Therefore, states and local governments should endeavour to remove structures built within the floodplains, clear blocked drainage, culverts and other waterways,” he said.
Nze called for the need to put more drainage systems, avoid building houses in areas that will block the flow of water and provision of dams to control flood to come into the country when other neighbouring country release water their dams.
He said the flood might translate to disaster if there are no facilities on ground to manage it.
Only recently, houses in four estates in Lokogoma District of the FCT were submerged after several hours of downpour.
The flood led to the death of a director at the FCT High Court, Mr Tony Okecheme, around Galadimawa roundabout when his vehicle was trapped.
Many residents spoken to yesterday said flooding in the district has become perennial, even as authorities have identified poor drainage system as the cause.
Some of the affected residents said houses in EFAB, Bethel Jubilation, Ipent and PENGASSAN estates were affected by the flood and that property worth millions of naira were destroyed.
A resident of EFAB, Habeeb Abdulkadir, said 38 houses were affected by the flood in June, “and this one has gone further down the estate, it has affected more than 38 houses. It is really devastating. It is worse than the last one; the damage is increasing.
“This time it fell fences, removed windows, cracked walls, removed electricity poles. So much devastation for one day, but no life was lost.”
Our correspondent in Bauchi State reports that an expert on water hygiene and environmental sanitation, Hajiya Addaji Mohammed has identified lack of intensive campaign as the major problem that puts the state among those prone to flood.
Addaji told newsmen that putting Bauchi State on flood red alert by NIHSA is a welcome development even as she expressed concern that the people may not change their attitude.
“People still build houses on flood-prone areas, they don’t want to leave the place and they also don’t want to give water its way. If you didn’t give water its way, it will continue to wreak havoc to the people residing on water ways and valley areas,” she said.
She advised the Bauchi State Government to evacuate residents whose houses are situated on waterways and valley areas, and partner with reliable non-governmental organizations to sensitize the people in all the nooks and crannies of the state for maximum impact.
Many residents of Gwallaga, Dindima and Liman Katagum live in perpetual fear as the rainy season remains.
“Any time we see sign of rainfall, we become scared because we don’t know what will happen. Our houses may end up being submerged or our roads would be blocked,” one of the residents said.
Mallam Altine Mohammed of Sabon Kaura Village also said, “We are living in constant fear. You can see even in Bauchi metropolis flood used to submerge cars and properties. The authorities need to construct more drainage and culverts and create ways for the water so as to ease people’s sufferings.”
Effort to speak to the state chairman of State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) failed, but the Bauchi State Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed had during a visit to sympathize with the victims of flood disaster caused by heavy downpour in Dindima village of Alkaleri and Liman Katagum of Bauchi Local Government Area, promised to assist the people.
Represented by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Abubakar Y. Suleman, the governor directed the State Emergency Management Agency to take immediate action.
News
We’ll Drive Tinubu’s Vision in Rivers With Vigour – Fubara …Inaugurates Dualized Ahoada/Omoku Road ….Debunks Rift With RSHA
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has stated that he will lead Rivers people to galvanize support for President Bola Tinubu to drive the vision and objectives of the Renewed Hope Agenda in the State with vigour.
The governor, who joined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday, explained that his decision to join the APC was not for personal interest but for the overall benefit of Rivers State.
Fubara disclosed these while inaugurating the extension of the dualized Ahoada/ Omoku Express road in Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas of Rivers State.
He commended the contracting firm, Julius Berger, for timely delivery of the project, saying the project is a campaign promise fulfilled which will bring economic benefits to the people and tackle issues of insecurity associated with the route.
He said his administration has remained focused in delivering democratic dividends in the state despite facing glaring challenges.
The governor thanked the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas for their continuous support, and urged his supporters to remain steadfast and also support President Tinubu who he said, has demonstrated love to Rivers State as a father.
Fubara denied having rift with the Rivers State House of Assembly, stating that his meeting with the lawmakers was stalled as a result of delay in the agreed meeting to be convened by former Governor Nyesom Wike and other stakeholders for him to meet with the state lawmakers.
“I have made every effort to meet with the Assembly members, but it is not within my leadership to initiate the meeting process.
“The arrangement was for my leader, Wike, and the elders led by Anabraba to call for a meeting with the the lawmakers.
“I’m a gentleman and principled. I can’t go behind to call them when we’ve already agreed. Whoever that tell them that I don’t want to meet with them, or I rejected proposal meant for them isn’t saying the truth,” Fubara said.
The Permanent Secretary of the Rivers State Ministry Works, Mr Austin Ezekiel-Hart, who gave the project description, said the delivery of the project was a fulfillment of long time dream by the people of Ahoada East and Ogba Egbema Ndoni Local Government Areas.
He said the road was previously a single lane and has now been dualised to 14.6 meters wide, complete with solar-powered streetlights with drainages.
He said the road significantly would reduce travel time between Ahoada and Omoku while improving economic activity in the region.
In his welcome address, Chairman of Ogba-Egbema-Ndoni Local Government Area, Hon. Chuku Shedrack Ogbogu, described the road as a symbol of unity, oneness, and development, thanking the governor for fulfilling his campaign promises.
On his part, the Managing Director of Julius Berger, Engr. Peer Lusbash, said the project was awarded to his company in 2023 with a completion period of 18 months which was achieved in best quality.
He added that Julius Berger enjoyed a good support from the Fubara administration, and assured to complete all ongoing projects being handled by Julius Berger on specification, especially the Ring Road project which is a legacy project.
Rivers State, Sir Siminialayi Fubara, has reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring good healthcare for the people of Rivers State.
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?Governor Fubara stated this when he played host to the Country Director of UNICEF, Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef and her management team in Port Harcourt, last Tuesday.
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?The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Benibo Anabraba, said he would continue to provide the necessary facilities in order to ensure accessible and good health care for all Rivers people.
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?”We are constructing new zonal hospitals across the State. The Ahoada Zonal hospital will be commissioned in December and others are near completion.
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?”We are grateful to UNICEF for all they have done and believe we can always work together to care for the vulnerable in the society. We appreciate your physical presence, and believe that your staff working remotely, can also do more virtually. We have a capable Commissioner of Health, Dr. Adaeze Oreh, to help foster our relationship, communication and greater collaboration,” he said.
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?The Country Director for UNICEF Nigeria, Ms. Wafaa Saeed Abdelatef, assured Governor Fubara of UNICEF’s support to the programmes of the State Government. She appealed that health facilities such as the Oxygen Plant at Eleme Local Government Ares and the New Born Care Units be solarized.
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?”Be assured that UNICEF will continue to work and support the programmes here in Rivers State. We have seen the Oxygen Plant at Eleme LGA which has been effective because of the Public Private Partnership. We appeal that the plant be solarized.
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?”I commend your leadership of the State and assure that we are here to support your effort and assure you that you can count on our support and partnership. Rivers State is one of the states we can showcase how things are working so others can learn,” she added.
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Chairman of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has announced a N100 billion annual education support programme aimed at keeping financially vulnerable Nigerian students in school.
Speaking at the launch of the national scholarship scheme in Lagos, yesterday, Dangote said too many brilliant young people were being forced out of classrooms because of poverty.
He described education as the “strongest engine of social mobility” and a critical foundation for national development.
The initiative, funded by the Aliko Dangote Foundation, will run for ten years beginning in 2026, costing over N1 trillion in total.
Dangote said the scheme would support 45,000 scholars each year at inception, expanding to 155,000 beneficiaries annually by its fourth year, and maintaining that level for the rest of the decade.
By 2036, he said, the programme is expected to have reached at least 1,325,000 students.
“We cannot allow financial hardship to silence the dreams of our young people, not when the future of our nation depends on their skills, resilience and leadership,” he added.
A major component of the fund is the Aliko Dangote STEM Scholars programme, which will provide annual scholarships for 30,000 undergraduate students pursuing science, technology, engineering and mathematics in public universities and polytechnics.
Each beneficiary will receive tuition support aligned with the fees of their institution and course of study. Dangote said the goal is to expand access to higher education, empower innovation, and give young Nigerians the tools to compete globally.
“STEM drives development. If Nigeria must compete globally, our young minds must have the tools to learn, imagine and innovate,” he said.
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