As Nigerians continue to lament the impact of flooding across the country, the Federal Government has said the country was not yet out of the wood, disclosing that five states are still at risk of experiencing flooding up to November, this year.
This came as it disclosed that the natural disaster claimed 603 lives, affected 2,504,095 persons and displaced 1,302,589 persons across the country.
Similarly, the government said the disaster injured 2,407 persons, partially damaged 121,318 houses, totally damaged 82,053 houses, partially damaged 108,392 hectares of farmlands and totally damaged 332,327 hectares of farmlands, all across Nigeria.
The states still at risk are Anambra, Delta, Cross River, Rivers and Bayelsa. The Federal Government has, therefore, called for immediate evacuation of residents of the identified areas to avert a catastrophic outcome.
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The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Hajiya Sadiya Umar-Farouq, who disclosed these at a press conference in Abuja, on Sunday, in Abuja, tasked governments of the respective states, local councils and communities to “prepare by evacuating people living on flood plains to high grounds, providing tents and relief materials, fresh water as well as medical supply for a possible outbreak of water-borne disease.”
The minister said government had initiated a bilateral discussion with authorities in Cameroon next month (November) on the periodic opening of the Lagdo dam.
She expressed sadness over the loss of lives and destruction of property occasioned by the recent flooding across the country.
She said: “The Ministry is concerned that despite all our efforts of averting the consequence of the 2022 flooding season, unfortunately, we have recorded the loss of over 500 lives, partial or total damage of more than 90,000 houses, damage of more than 140, 000 hectares of farmland, so many roads and other critical infrastructures were also affected.”
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