By Ayorinde Oluokun/with agency report
President Bola Tinubu said he has directed the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA to activate National Emergency Response Centre following the devastating flood disaster which has so far claimed over hundred lives in Mokwa Local Government Area of Niger State
President Tinubu said he asked NEMA to activate the National Emergency Response Centre after he was briefed by NEMA on the scale of the disaster in a statement released early Saturday morning.
“While describing the reports of severe flooding, tragic loss of lives and the displacement of families as distressing, the President assured that Search-and-rescue operations are ongoing, and all relevant federal agencies have been mobilised to support the Niger state government’s efforts to tackle the disaster.
The President added that he has also directed security agencies to assist in the emergency efforts while NEMA and the National Emergency Response Centre has been tasked with coordination and providing updates as necessary.
“Relief materials and temporary shelter assistance are being deployed without delay. We will ensure that no Nigerian affected by this disaster is left behind or unheard of,” the President said while extending heartfelt condolences to the affected families and the good people of Niger State at this difficult time.
“I assure all those impacted that your government stands with you. We will continue to coordinate with the Niger State Government to ensure a swift, coordinated, and compassionate response, one that prioritises lives, restores dignity and accelerates recovery.
“I call on all Nigerians to keep our fellow citizens in Mokwa in our thoughts and prayers. In times of adversity, we draw strength from our unity, resilience, and shared humanity.”
The Deputy Governor of Niger, Mr Yakubu Garba, had on Friday said over 100 bodies of the victims have been recovered in the flood disaster that followed a torrential downpour on Wednesday night.
The affected areas were Tiffin Maza and Anguwan Hausawa in Mokwa town, Mokwa Local Government Area of the state.
Garba spoke to journalists during an on-the-spot assessment of the incident at Mokwa on Friday.
He said that over 100 bodies had been recovered, adding that search and rescue operation was still ongoing.
“I have been briefed by officials from NEMA and NSEMA, who have been on ground since the incident occurred for search and rescue operations.
“I was told that over 100 people lost their lives and some are yet to be buried as search and rescue operations are still ongoing,” he said.
Garba, while addressing the victims at the Internally Displaced Camp (IDPs), urged them to exercise patience as the state government was working out modalities to provide relief materials to those affected.
He said that the state government had received relief materials from NEMA, which had been handed over to the council chairman for onward distribution to the victims.
He assured the victims that he would communicate his findings to the governor to secure additional support for those affected.
He, however, cautioned against building structures on waterways and emphasised the need for residents to respect natural water pathways to prevent future disasters.
Also speaking, Mrs Zubaida Umar, Director-General of NEMA, said that officials of the agency were on ground coordinating ongoing search and rescue operation.
Umar said that the agency provided food and non-food items, including rice, blankets, and mats which had been handed over to the state government through the deputy governor to support victims.
She also said that NEMA was working with the Red Cross and Niger State Emergency Management Agency (NSEMA) to support the affected community.
One of the victims, Anas Usman, told NAN that 17 members of his household lost their lives to the disaster, saying the flood came on Thursday morning after heavy downpour on Wednesday night.
“We were preparing to go to the farm in the morning when our house was suddenly submerged by floods, we did not know where the flood came from.
“The flood submerged our house, causing the structure to collapse, we lost children, women and men, who are family members,” he said.
