Traditional Ruler Commends Kogi Govt. for initiatives on flood alert

The Aguma of Bassa Kingdom, Chief Keke Williams, has commended Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi for sensitising the people in the nine flood prone local government areas of the state.

The monarch made the commendation when the Kogi 2017 Flood Sensitisation team paid him a courtesy visit at his palace on Monday in Oguma, Bassa Local Government Area.

The royal father expressed his delight to the government for coming down to the grassroots to sensitise his people, saying he was also a victim of 2012 flooding.

“We thank Gov. Yahaya Bello and the Commissioner for Environment for considering it necessary to come here; we have never received this kind of visitation before; not even during the 2012 flooding. That is why I am thanking God on behalf of the governor we have today; a young man that really has good plans for the people and always standing by his words. Really, the water level is rising; as you come to sensitise us, we have heard you and we shall in turn educate our people, especially those at the riverside,” Williams said.

The monarch, who is also the Chairman Bassa Area Local Govt. Traditional Council, Oguma, appealed to the government through the Commissioner for Environment, to construct camp for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPS) in Bassa for emergency situation.

The Administratior of Bassa LGA, Mr Samuel Zekeri, who was represented by Director of Local Government (DLG), Mr Shiaka Sheidu said that the issue of flooding had been a serious business in Bassa Local Government.

He said that the entire land of Bassa was the worst affected in 2012 flooding with great loss of both lives and property, and commended the governor and the commissioner for taking the appropriate measures.

Mr Sunday Baiye, the Campaign Coordinator for Kogi Sensitisation, said that the sensitisation campaigns to communities in nine flood prone local governments in the state had been successfully completed.

“The campaign started last week in Lokoja and we have rounded it up today in Bassa. We have also covered Koton-Karfe/Kogi, Omala, Ibaji, Ofu, Igalamela/Odolu, Ajaokuta, Idah Local Government Areas,’’ he said.

It would be recalled that Gov. Yahaya Bello had on July 14, declared a ‘State of Emergency in Environment’ due to the forecast by Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) of the likely recurrence of 2012 cycle of flooding.