29 People, 321,000 Houses, 858,000 Hectares Of Farmlands Washed Away By Kebbi Flood
A terrible flood which ravaged Kebbi State has claimed 29 lives and destroyed 329,000 houses, with thousands of residents displaced.
According to reports, the flood submerged 858,000 hectares of farmland, wiping out key crops such as rice, millet, sorghum, and beans, and sparking fears of an impending food crisis.
Yakubu Birnin Kebbi, who is the Kebbi State Commissioner for Information and Culture, said during a press briefing on Friday, expressed the government’s struggle to manage the aftermath, stating that the scope of the disaster has overwhelmed local resources.
Yakubu said, “Governor Nasir’s administration has done its best to assist those affected, but the magnitude of the flood demands more help,”.
He stated that the state government has compiled a report on the flood’s impact, which will be submitted to federal agencies in a bid to secure more aid.
Adding that the loss of farmland may lead to food shortages in the region, as the livelihoods of thousands of farmers have been destroyed.
“Many of them have lost their means of livelihood, the disaster has forced farmers into penury, shortage of food looms on the horizon, and our food security target is in jeopardy unless urgent measures are put in place to remedy the situation.
“The Kebbi Government will provide improved seeds and other agricultural input to farmers to return to cultivation, but more is needed”,
“Preliminary statistics show that seven persons died in Ngaski, eight in Maiyama, five in Kalgo, seven in Jega, and two in Birnin Kebbi, as a result of the flooding.”
When asked if Kebbi State Government has accessed the N3 billion grant for flood mitigation from the Federal Government, the commissioner said that he was not aware if the money has entered the coffers of the state.
“I am also surprised that members from Kebbi State in the National Assembly, including Senators, are yet to visit the areas ravaged by flooding to offer the necessary assistance and sympathy,” he added.
In response to the crisis, the government warned that it may resort to forcibly evacuating residents in flood-prone areas who refuse to relocate to safer regions.
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