By Joy Salami
The Kogi State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), has sought stronger collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Communication, to intensify sensitisation and response efforts as floodwaters continue to devastate parts of the state.
The Agency, stated recently in Lokoja, during a courtesy visit on the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Hon. Kingsley Fanwo, in his office.
The Executive Secretary of SEMA, Alhaji Mouktar Atima, also appealed for urgent intervention from the federal government, international agencies, and well-meaning organisations, stressing that the state alone cannot handle the magnitude of the disaster.
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He noted that the agency has set up 42 Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, across nine flood-prone Local Government Areas of the state.
He described Ibaji as the worst hit, with about 96 percent of the area often submerged during floods.
Atima confirmed that five Ibaji communities have already gone under water, with reports of flooding also in parts of Lokoja and Kogi LGAs.
“Last year, we managed over 76,000 displaced persons in our various camps. By God’s grace, we did not record deaths, but rather new births in some camps. This year, however, we must brace up, especially with reports that dams within and outside the country may soon release excess water,” he said.
In the same vein, the Commissioner for Information and Communications, Honourable Kingsley Fanwo, stated the need for both federal and international agencies to take the plight of Kogi State more seriously, given its unique geographical position as the confluence of the Rivers Niger and Benue.
Fanwo lamented that while other states along the riverbanks receive more attention during flooding, Kogi continues to struggle despite bearing the worst of the disaster.
“As we speak, the entire Ibaji Local Government Area has been submerged. This is a local government that is central to rice production in Nigeria. The implications go beyond Kogi; it is about food security for the nation, the Commissioner said.
According to him, “Kogi is the most northern part of the South and the most southern part of the North. Without Kogi, it is practically impossible to access the Federal Capital Territory from the South. If our state is cut off, the nation will suffer. We are therefore calling on federal agencies, international partners like the Red Cross, and all humanitarian organizations to come to our aid.”
The Commissioner commended SEMA’s proactive approach and assured the agency of his ministry’s full support in public sensitisation.
He announced that state-owned communication platforms, including the Broadcasting Corporation, official websites, social media handles, and the Graphic Newspaper, will be dedicated to flood awareness campaigns.
Fanwo emphasised the need for residents in flood-prone areas to prioritise safety by moving to higher ground, adding that relief efforts would only be meaningful if lives were preserved.
The meeting brought together key stakeholders, including officials from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the fire service, and search-and-rescue teams, as part of efforts to strengthen preparedness and response.
Both agencies, reiterated their commitment to work hand in hand in sensitising the public, providing relief materials, and drawing global attention to the devastating impact of flooding in Kogi State.
