The Rice Famers Association of Nigeria (RIFAN) in Kano State says the recent flood has destroyed over 5,000 hectares of rice farm in some local government areas of the state.

The RIFAN state chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano, the state capital, on Thursday, September 13, 2018 that the rice farms were affected in 10 local government areas of the state.

Aliyu, who spoke through his Assistant Secretary, Alhaji Ado Yakasai, listed the affected local government areas as: Warawa, Minjibir, Bunkure, Wudil, Gaya, Garko, Gabasawa, Kabo, Rimin Gado and Ajingi.

He said the disaster, which occurred in August affected most of the rice farms situated in Fadama areas, pointing out that only farms located upland were not hit by the disaster.

“Each hectare of farm was expected to produce between six and seven tonnes of the commodity but with this disaster, the production will be seriously affected.

“You know most of the rice farms are situated at Fadama areas which are water settlements. So when the incident happened many farms were submerged by water,” he said.

Aliyu said that the farmers, who collected loan facility under the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Anchor Borrower Programme, had lost over N5 billion as a result of the flood.

“Each of the farmers collected fertilizer and other inputs worth N210,000 as the total loan package while some of them have even spent additional amount of money on top of the total loan package.

“The association has already reported the incident to the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAISL) since the farmers are covered by the insurance company,” he said.

He noted that the collapse of an earth dam in Bunkure local government area aggravated the situation.

The chairman, however, called on the Federal and state governments to come to the aid of the affected farmers in view of the huge loss they incurred.

He disclosed that no fewer than 44,800 rice farmers benefited from the Federal Government’s agricultural loan under the Anchor Borrower Programme this wet season.

By Tukur Muntari

Gaya community in Niger Republic has appealed to the Kebbi State Government in Nigeria to allow its residents utilise the access road in Bagudu Local Government pending the repair of its bridge that was washed away by flood.

The governor of Gaya city, Samaila Usman, made the appeal when he paid a courtesy visit to Kebbi Deputy Governor, Alhaji Samaila Yombe, in Birnin Kebbi on Thursday, September 13, 2018.

He said: “I have come to pay you a courtesy visit and appeal to your government to permit our people to use the alternative route which cut across Bagudu, Suru and Dandi Local Government Areas.

“This will be just for the time it takes to reconstruct the collapsed Gayan Bridge.

“The bridge, which served as route to our people coming to Nigeria for economic gains and exchange of relationship and brotherliness, collapsed as a result of the flood along River Niger.”

Usman said that despite being in separate countries, the people of Gaya and Nigerians have remained like family.

He said that the kinship had been sustained by mutual faith and belief in one another, in view of similarities in culture, beliefs and values.

“We are still family and we always are,’’ the Gaya governor said.

Usman commended the Kebbi government for ensuring peace and unity amongst the people in the towns bordering Niger Republic and Nigeria.

In his remarks, the deputy governor expressed appreciation for the visit and assured that the request would receive appropriate attention.

“We consider people from Niger Republic, especially in Gaya and Dosso cities part of our extended family.

“We will not leave you alone as we will do all it takes to assist as much as we can,’’ Yombe assured.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gaya is a city in the Dosso Region of Niger located 254 km south-east of the capital, Niamey.

It is located on the banks of the Niger River, near the Benin and Nigeria borders.

By Ibrahim Bello

Chairman of Ogbaru Local Government Area of Anambra State, Mr Arinze Awogu, has directed the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) to cut supply to flood-prone areas for fear of massive electrocution.

Awogu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka, the state capital, on Sunday, September 16, 2018 that most electricity installations in the areas had been submerged due to incessant rains.

He said that no fewer than 9,000 persons from 1,500 households had been displaced from their homes in Ogbaru council.

Awogu noted that there were dangers of possible health hazard as many sewage pits had been ripped open by the flood.

He described the flood situation in Ogbaru as an emergency that demands swift response from the National and Anambra State Emergency Management Agencies.

The chairman requested that the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the state be properly equipped for evacuation of flood victims.

“NEMA, SEMA and Red Cross officials have visited Ogbaru for on-the-spot- assessment, we are still awaiting their intervention to minimise loss of lives and property.

“The flood is having all the signs of the devastating 2012 flood and we request that IDPs camps be equipped so that the over 9,000 affected persons can move into the camps.

“We can only access people’s homes by canoe because everywhere is massively flooded, the flood comes in the night and by morning people are scampering for safety.

“There is need to sand fill some areas within the IDP camps, and at the moment no single relief material has been brought to any of the designated camps.

“The worse seem not to have been seen as we are only battling with the water released from Shiroro, Kainji and Jebba dams, the Cameroonians have not released theirs and they will do so in couple of days and when that happens, it will be a disaster for us here,” he said.

The chairman appealed to both Federal and State ministries of health to respond urgently to the health challenges posed by the flood,” he said.

Pentagon deployed two amphibious warships – USS Kearsarge and USS Arlington – to offer disaster relief and search and rescue assistance for Hurricane Florence following Hurricane Florence’s landfall.

The U.S. Department of Defense said about 7,000 troops were also deployed to respond to Florence in the coming days after it caused catastrophic flooding in North and South Carolina.

Pentagon said U.S. Northern Command, the National Guard and military services were actively supporting Federal Emergency Management Agency along with state and local responders.

Florence’s centre was about 75 kilometre west-southwest of Wilmington, North Carolina, and about 45 kilometres northeast of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Gen. Terrence O’Shaughnessy, North American Aerospace Defense Command and Northcom Commander, said various Pentagon assets had been positioned to surround the storm.

“We have quite literally surrounded the affected area with (Defense Department) capability that will be critical in hours and days following the storm’s impact.

“Defense Secretary Jim Mattis’ guidance to me is clear: we are anticipating the needs.

“We are moving forward under our own authorities to be able to respond as soon as a request is made.

“Saving lives and mitigating suffering is a top priority and military forces are well-positioned to respond immediately, O’Shaughnessy said.

U.S. President Donald Trump had earlier directed FEMA and law enforcement to respond to the disaster and had commended their responses so far.

“Great job FEMA, First Responders and Law Enforcement – not easy, very dangerous, tremendous talent. America is proud of you. Keep it all going – finish strong!” Trump tweeted.

At least five persons have been killed as Florence, now downgraded from Hurricane to a tropical storm, continued to ‘wreak havoc’ on East Coast battering North Carolina and South Carolina.

Trump also tweeted to mourn those who died in the Hurricane: “Five deaths have been recorded thus far with regard to Hurricane Florence!

“Deepest sympathies and warmth go out to the families and friends of the victims. May God be with them!”

By Prudence Arobani

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has received N3 billion to respond to the looming flood disasters following a red alert issued on September 7, 2018 by the National Hydological Services Agency (NHISA).

Mr Mustapha Maihaja, Director General, NEMA, made this known on Saturday, September 15 in Abuja during a meeting involving NEMA officials and stakeholders to assess the reports from the fact-finding committees after visiting the flood prone states.

According to Maihaja, President Muhammadu Buhari approved N3 billion for the first stages of preparedness, response disaster mitigation.

Maihaja said that the agency has immediately swung into action in case there are more worrying indications of a looming flood.

He said that reports from the fact-finding committees are worrisome as some states including Niger, Kogi, Delta and Anambra have already started witnessing flooding.

“From the first response, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved up to N3 billion for the first response.

“We are here today to assess the already alarming situation, with declaration of red alert done on Sept. 7.

The declaration further culminated to the constitution of six committees that went around 12 states.

“NiMet has reported that from today to the next 72 hours, there would be continuous rain in the North, the Central and the Southern states of Nigeria.

“NHISA has reported also that today, the levels at the measuring stations, at the confluence of the Rivers Niger and Benue at Lokoja is 10.98 meters.

“This confirms that the volume is still increasing and with the threatening in flow at Lagdo Dam, with the level as at yesterday recorded at 21.4 meters when compared to the highest level.

“They will be forced to discharge at 21.6 meters that means we are left at 0.2 meters to get to that level and the continuous inflow makes it more worrisome,’’ Maihaja said.

Maihaja said that it was on that note that stakeholders under the coordination of NEMA have activated a National Contingency Plan, a policy document, which gives NEMA the power to establish operational structure.

The director general said that an operational structure has being put in place with a National Emergency Operational Centre domicile at the NEMA headquarters and five Zonal Emergency Operational Centres (EOC).

Maihaja said that EOC A, will be responsible for operations in the following States; Kebbi, Niger and Kwara States.

He said that EOC B will be responsible for operations in Edo and Kogi States, while EOC C will be operational at Amambra and Delta States.

He listed EOC D to be responsible for operations in Benue, Taraba and Adamawa and lastly, EOC E to be responsible for operations in Rivers and Bayelsa.

Maihaja said that the NEMA situation room was also being activated for collecting data, analyzing the data for information sake to guide the operations of the national EOCs and the Zonal EOCs.

He said that the nation would be given regular information and updates on further developments.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that on Friday, President Muhammadu Buhari ordered Maihaja to declare a “national disaster’’ in the event that anticipated flooding turns a reality in some parts of the country.

The President’s directive follows a warning from NHISA that Rivers Niger and Benue have almost reached the levels that resulted in the 2012 flooding.

By Lizzy Okoji