Almost on daily basis, torrential rainfall, leading to severe flooding, loss of lives and property, continue to overwhelm Niger State.
As of today, 130 communities in 22 of the 25 local government areas of the state are sheltered at the Central Primary School, Zungeru in Wushishi local government area. 40 people are dead as a result of the flooding that carried them away. The bodies of some of the victims have been recovered and buried. Hectares of farm lands of rice, tubers of yam and assorted grains worth millions of Naira are also lost. Besides those camped in Zungeru, 300 victims are sheltered in Kakaki in Shiroro local government area while another camp in Muye in Lapai local government area is playing host to no fewer than 4,572 inmates. About 6,000 victims are in another camp in Kede in Mokwa local government area.
Related: Gov Sani Bello visits affected communities ravaged by flood
Meanwhile, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who was on an on-the-spot assessment of flood affected areas and the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp at Zungeru on Wednesday September 19, has directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide building materials to the new resettlement site for communities affected by floods in Niger in order to ease their hardship. The Vice President, who visited the IDP camp in Zungeru, assured that relocation of inmates camped in the facility will commence as soon as possible in order to enable pupils schooling there resume for the new academic session.
Governor Abubakar Sani-Bello, who led the Vice President to the camp, disclosed that the state government had taken steps to make life comfortable for the victims.
Ambassador Muhammed Manta, who spoke on behalf of the victims, commended the federal and state governments for their prompt action just as he emphasised immediate payment of compensation to the communities affected by the construction of the Zungeru Hydro Electric Dam.
