Flood Alerts: N-HYPPADEC urges Kogi communities to relocate upland

***urges traditional rulers to enlighten subjects

By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.

National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (N-HYPPADEC), has urged riverine communities living on the banks of Rivers Niger and Benue to relocate to higher and safer grounds to avoid human and material casualties from Flood.

Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa, Managing Director of N-HYPPADEC made the call when he called on the Atta Igala, HRM Alaji Matthew Opaluwa Oguche-Akpa and the Eje of Ibaji, Ajofe John Egwemi on a sensitization visit to the traditional rulers on Saturday.

The Managing Director urged the royal fathers to impress on their subjects, the need to heed the warnings by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet), of imminent floods that predicted to surpass that of 2022 with more devastating effects.

Describing flood as a natural phenomenon that no one can stop, the MD said the only option left is for the people to be adequately prepare against it to avoid being caught unaware.

He charged members of the 10 flood prone Local Government Areas in Kogi state to sleep with one eye closed and the other, open to avoid being overrun by water overnight as the onslaught can not be predicted with precision.

“We have visited Atta Igala and Eje Ibaji. We have been advising, appealing to the traditional rulers, youth and community leaders to help us prevail on the people living along river channels to move up land until when the situation improves.

“We have also procured two boats for Ibaji communities which will be commissioned and put to use next Thursday”, he added.

Yelwa, a holder of numerous traditional titles including Katukan Yauri and “Abeneche Atta-Igala” said, “It is being anticipated that the effect of the 2024 floods may be higher than it has always been.

“Therefore, it is always good to call on the subjects to be careful and endeavour to relocate to safer grounds until the situation becomes healthier so that we can avoid loss of lives because, in most times, the floods come unawares.”

In his response, the Atta-Igala, HRM Alaji Matthew Opaluwa Oguche-Akpa, promised to sensitize and create awareness in his people to ensure that they heed the advice and warning of the agencies.

The Atta-Igala who was represented by one of his chiefs, His Royal Highness Ibrahim Atadoga, the Inalogu-Atta, commended N-HYPPADEC for its presence to ameliorate the hardships being visited on the riverine communities in Kogi.

Earlier at his palace in Idah, the Eje of Ibaji, Ajofe John Egwemi described flooding in Ibaji Local Government Area as natural phenomenon that has come to stay in view of its recurrence in the area.

He urged the Commission to table its age-long request for the construction of an all-season road saying, “We have other issues but this is the most challenging. Please remember our road.

“We are perpetually cut off by flood because as along as we don’t have road, we are cut off. Our communities are only accessible from January to May every year”, he implored. (Ends)