Labour Party presidential candidate for the 2023 elections, Peter Obi has urged the Federal government and National Emergency Management Agency to act fast and rush aid to victims of floods.
As of Sunday the death toll of the floods in the worst hit States Benue, Kogi, Anambra, Delta, Bayelsa and Nasarawa has reached 605 with many communities and towns submerged in water. Obi who was reacting to the disaster on his twitter handle said: The devastating enormity of the 2022 flooding and the damages it has wreaked on several states, namely, Benue, Kogi, Anambra, Delta, Bayelsa and Nasarawa, is mind-boggling. So far, over 600 lives were reportedly lost, and over 2 million people displaced.
“I sympathize with those directly affected by the loss of lives and properties. At a time our country contends with rising food insecurity due to banditry and insurgency.
“The ravaging floods will have deleterious consequences on food production, as well as orchestrate higher food prices. I call on FGN and NEMA to expeditiously assist those affected by this natural disaster.”
The Federal government and the States did little to evacuate the communities on the path of flood before it hit. They were supposed to order mandatory evacuations like it is done in more advanced countries.
However, the Nigeria Hydrological Services (NIHSA), director-general, Clement Nze, stated that State governments did not heed to warning by government agencies.
“If our predictions were heeded by relevant sub-nationals, we would not have been where we are today,” Eze said.
“But I am believing that following this year’s flood disaster across the land, the consciousness of relevant actors especially sub-nationals will be awakened to do the needful once they receive all these advisories.”
