Kogi and Delta States said they have built temporary camps for intending Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) in preparation for the 2015 flooding.

The two states made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday at the end of the Environmental Roundtable in preparation for the 2015 flood.

The preparation followed the proposed plan to open up the Lagdo dam in Cameroon to release water.

Speaking with NAN, the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources in Kogi, Mr. Tayo Aremu, said the government had set up a standing committee on flood management.

“We have called stakeholders’ meeting and we have also had contacts with the relevant stakeholders tasked with the responsibility of tackling flood.

“We have identified quick wing actions that can be done to mitigate and contain flood.

“We have built some temporary IDP camps, making provision for relief materials and medical aids. These things have been provided for and ready for use.

“The government is collaborating with NEMA. This year, we are working to take the IDPs camps out of the schools to ensure they do not affect educational programme of the state.

“We are also monitoring the trend of the flooding. Now Benue State is experiencing it and the next will be Kogi and we are monitoring and getting the people sensitised.

“We are telling them to run to various camps where we have provided for them in case of flood.

“We are also putting in place vehicles that will convey the people to the camps, to assist evacuation.

“We might not be able to carry everybody at once so we are telling them to get set to move.

“If they can move to a higher area, they can but if not, they should move to the designated IDP camps.”

Also, the Delta State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. John Nani, said the states’ Emergency Management Agency had been adequately empowered to handle the issue.

He appealed to other states which were likely to be affected to ensure effective planning.

The Director, Ecological at the Katsina State Ministry of Environment, Mr. Yahaya Sani, however, advocated channeling of two per cent of each state’s budget to tackle natural disasters.

“In Katsina, we set aside two per cent of our budget for natural disaster like flood and others.

“I urge other states to emulate us.”

NAN reports that the stakeholders’ meeting attracted experts and commissioners for environment from across the federation. (NAN)

•Photo shows Gov. Wada

Update news