The House of Representatives has asked the Nigerian government agencies; the Ecological Fund Office and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to take practical measures towards forestalling future flooding.
This comes as flood disaster leaves scores death, and destroy farms, and others in Jigawa, Kano and other states.
It says enlightenment of residents on early warning signs, clear drainages and canals to ease the flow of water could help.
The advice followed a motion sponsored by the Chairman House committee on rules and business Abubakar Fulata, and nine others at plenary on Thursday.
The House also tasked “the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development and NEMA to provide urgent relief assistance to the affected communities and give medical care to the flood victims in the two states.”
Fulata also lamented that the prolonged rainfall caused serious floods in Jigawa and Kano states, overflowing Tiga Dam which resulted in scores of deaths
Fulata further said that the flood destroyed houses, farmlands, livestock, and properties and displaced residents and their livelihood in parts of Jigawa and Kano states.
He said “Aware that the flood submerged about 50 villages in Kinkasamma and 30 villages in Guri Local Government Areas of Jigawa State thus destroying farmlands worth millions of naira. Worried that the flood-ravaged farm produces, properties, and displacement of residents in Larabawa/zero, Sakarma/Badwa in Kiru Local Government Area, Tiga Gwarmap, Unguwar Tura, Bawai, Tubabbu, Baleen Boyi, Kargo, Kuki, Nasarawan Kuki, Bakin Kogi, Gargai all in Bebeji Local Government Area of Kano State. Also worried that the residents of the affected communities are living in palpable fear of being permanently displaced by the raging floods as well as the attendant destruction of properties and outbreak of diseases even as they are currently facing untold hardship in the aftermath of the flooding. Cognizant of the need to dredge and fortify the wall of the Tiga Dam to forestall future occurrences, the lawmaker stated.
The House, while adopting the motion, urged Jigawa and Kano States Governments to embark on an awareness campaign for possible response activities in high-risk areas to mitigate further disaster.
It also mandated the committees on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness and Environment to ensure compliance and report back within five weeks for further legislative action.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
