Abia flood: Senate seeks FG’s intervention

Urges NIMET, others to promptly make flood information available

The Federal Government, through its agencies, should take immediate measures to rescue and ameliorate the sufferings of inhabitants of communities being ravaged by recent flood menace in Abia North Senatorial District, the Senate has charged.

The upper legislative chamber gave the charge, following the motion moved by a former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu, on “urgent need for the Federal Government to make emergency provisions for victims of flooding in some communities in Abia North Senatorial District.”

It, therefore, called on the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs & Poverty Alleviation, as well as the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), to urgently make emergency provision available to cushion the effects on victims of the affected communities in Abia North Senatorial District.

The Senate also urged the Ecological Fund Department of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of Environment and Ecological Management to urgently assess the extent of damages on erosion sites in the areas with a view to rebuilding the damaged environment created by this ugly incident.

It also urged the Federal Ministries of Housing, Urban Development and Power to rehabilitate some of the collapsed homes, roads and electric installations within the affected areas.

The Upper Chamber mandated the committees on Legislative Compliance and Environment to ensure compliance and report back to the Senate within four weeks.

MEANWHILE, the Senate has urged the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) to make information, recommendations and other disaster aids available to the people in good time to avert unnecessary loss of life and property.

This followed the adoption of a motion on ‘Urgent Need to Provide Palliative Support for Ipao, Itapaji and Oke-Ako communities in Ikole Local Council Area of Ekiti State sponsored by Fasuyi Cyril Oluwale (Ekiti North).

Oluwale also noted that another devastating storm occurred on June 6, 2024, which put the same towns in Ekiti North Senatorial District into serious distress.

Oluwole expressed regret that government agencies have failed to give warnings and advance information to prevent and control imminent disasters on the communities, which has continued to sustain constant fear and lack of knowledge on preparedness by the rural communities across the country.

The Senate, therefore, urged the Federal Government, through its Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to send relief packages, especially, food items, building materials, farm tools and other essential equipment to enable affected people of Ipao, Itapaji-Ekiti and Oke-Ako towns feed, rebuild their homes and alleviate their pains in view of the impending rainy season.