18 perish, 50,000 others displaced as floods ravage 86 Niger communities

No fewer than 18 people have been killed and 50,000 others displaced as floods submerged 86 communities across 21 local government areas of Niger state.

The director-general, Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Alhaji Mohammed Inga, stated this in an update on the flood situation in the state issued in Minna Friday.

“This year alone, about 5,106 farmlands and residential houses have either been washed away or submerged by floods, resulting in colossal economic losses,” he said.

Inga regretted “these unfortunate natural disasters that occur every rainy season,” adding that “last year, thousands of people were displaced, while 32 people died.”

The director-general said the federal and state governments had been providing relief materials to the victims.

“We have received help from the federal government and an assessment team from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has visited the state for an on-the-spot assessment.”

He said 21 local governments out of 25 were affected, with Mokwa, Gbako, Lavun, Shiroro, Lapai, Munya and Wushishi being the most devastated, adding that “86 communities have been severely displaced with many IDPs camps springing up.”

Inga noted that the situation was overwhelming and that the government should not be left alone in providing humanitarian and relief materials to the victims.

He, therefore, called on good-spirited individuals, corporate bodies, non- governmental organisations, religious and charitable institutions to make donations to alleviate the sufferings of the affected.”