“CATASTROPHIC FLOODING LOOMS: NIGER’S FOUR MAJOR DAMS TO DISCHARGE EXCESS WATER”
GREATRIBUNETVNEWS–Four hydroelectric dams in Niger State, Nigeria – Shiroro, Jebba, Kainji, and Zungeru – have issued a notification to release excess water due to the high volume of water inflow. The Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) has alerted communities in riverine areas to relocate immediately to avoid the impending disaster .
Affected Areas:
– Local Government Areas:Lavun, Magama, Rafi, Kontagora, Gbako, Mokwa, Lapai, Katcha, Agaie, Suleja, Shiroro, Mashegu, Agwara, Bida, Edati, Munya, Bosso, Chanchaga, Paikoro, and Wushishi
– Rivers: Niger and Kaduna
Warning and Advisory:
The dams are releasing thousands of gallons of water per minute, which could lead to overflow and catastrophic flooding. NSEMA’s Director-General, Abdullahi Baba Arah, advises communities to limit activities around riverbanks and relocate to safer grounds .
Precautionary Measures:
– Avoid standing under trees during rainfall
– Stay away from substandard structures
– Relocate to safer grounds already identified
Loss of Lives:
Loss of lives has been recorded in the affected areas, but the exact number is yet to be determined
In a related development, the Mokwa Flood Relief Support Group has issued cheques to school proprietors for sponsoring 88 children who were victims of flooding in the Mokwa council area of the state.
It also issued cheques to some training institutes for the skill acquisition training of 41 widows and children on tailoring, catering, as well as soap making.
Flagging off the exercise at Beyge Primary School in Mokwa, Chairman of the Flood Relief Support Group, Ahmed Nasir, a retired Assistant Controller General of Customs (ACGC), said the gesture was to alleviate the suffering of the survivors.
He explained that since the flood devastated the community, the children of the victims had dropped out of school, as the widows could not take care of their immediate families.
In his remarks, the Ndalele of Mokwa, Muhammadu Shaba Aliyu, expressed delight over the unwavering support from the indigenes.
The Head of Hausa Community in Mokwa, Bala Tanko, who spoke through Biliyaminu Shahu, thanked the group for the humanitarian gesture, promising that the community would remain loyal to constituted authorities.
Responding on behalf of the school proprietors, Suleiman Jibrin, Principal of Hakimi Aliyu Secondary School, Mokwa, urged for sustenance of the sponsorship, and promised to justify the confidence reposed in them by ensuring that all the pupils were impacted positively
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