By Emmanuel Oluwakorede, Lokoja
The National Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission has urged people living along flood prone areas in Kogi State to move to higher grounds.
The acting Managing Director of N-HYPPADEC, Mr. Jimoh Haruna Gabi made the call in a message to the early warning Sensitization in Koton Karfe, Kogi Local Government Area.
This is coming almost a week after a heavy downpour caused flooding in Mokwa in Niger State, killing over two hundred people.
The Nigerian Metrological Agency (Nimet) had predicted flood in Kogi State this year and to avoid the Mokwa sad incident, the N-HYPPADEC team was in Koton Karfe for Sensitization.
Representing by the acting Coordinator of the Agency in Kogi State, Mr. Michael Ajayi, the acting Managing Director said the Sensitization was to prepare residents of riverine communities of the dangers ahead.
According to Mr. Gabi, the flood does not notify of its coming, saying the Sensitization will be carried out in all the Local Government Areas usually affected by the disaster.
He noted that following the prediction of Nimet, Kogi Local Government close to River Niger is prone to flood, hence the need to take precautionary measures.
The Head of Community and Rural Development Unit N-HYPPADEC Headquarters, Abduljalal Zailani and the immediate past Coordinator of the Agency in the State, Engineer Joan Oguche enjoined traditional Rulers in the Area to sensitize their subjects on the need to move to higher grounds.
Responding on behalf of the Community, the Chief of Edeha Community, Alh. Abdullahi Isah commended N-HYPPADEC for their interest in the wellbeing of the people.
The N-HYPPADEC team had earlier visited the Ohimege Igu of Koton Karfe, Alhaji Saidu Akawu Salihu, who described the Sensitization as a step in the right direction, saying one third of the entire Igu Kingdom is submerged during the annual flood.
