Niger Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani-Bello, has said that over 100 communities in Mokwa, Lavun, Edati, Katcha, Agaie and Lapai local government areas of the state have been sacked and submerged by flood from the tributaries of Rivers Niger and Kaduna.

He revealed this on Thursday in Muye, Lapai Local Government Area shortly after conducting an aerial view of affected communities.

Governor Sani-Bello said the situation has gone beyond the capacity of the state and called for Federal Government’s intervention.

“What I saw today is very devastating, on a rough estimate more than a 100 communities have been submerged in water and it doesn’t appear that water is receding. That we have not seen the end of it, is very disturbing. The situation is definitely getting out of hand and it is beyond what the state can do,” he said.

The Governor stated that the state government on its own part would ensure the provision of the relief materials and the relocation of the victims from the area.

“This flood,” he said, “starts all the way from Kede, towards Muregi and to down to Muye along the river bank. So definitely at this point, we will have to seek for the support of the Federal Government and that is exactly what we are going to do.

“The first step taken by the State Government was to send some relief materials to the affected communities because I strongly believe they will lack food at this time and the final step and probably the lasting solution is to relocate them at some point but now we have to take care of their immediate needs with regards to food and drugs.”

The Governor had earlier directed release of N60 million for provision of relief materials.

According to him, “The situation is a tough one because we have experienced this before, we have tried to convince the communities to move out of waterways but somehow it has been extremely difficult. They see these places as their ancestral homes but we have to continue to communicate with them on the dangers they put themselves into. The lasting solution will be to relocate them. What we will do for now is to provide maximum support to them.”

Gov Sani-Bello, who flew round the affected area in a Police Helicopter, was accompanied by his Deputy, Alhaji Mohammed Ahmed Ketso; Chief of Staff, Hon Mikhail Almin Bmitosahi; Commissioner for Works and Infrastructural Development, Alhaji Ibrahim Balarabe; Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Jibrin Amin; Special Adviser, Special Duties, Alhaji Umar Alkali (Sardauna); and Director General, Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA), Alhaji Ibrahim Inga.

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