Drought Displaces 500 Fishermen, Farmers In Yobe

More than 500 fishermen and irrigation farmers in Bade Local Government Area of Yobe State have lost their means of livelihood due to drought in the area.

Alhaji Saleh Suleiman, Chairman, Caretaker Committee of Bade Local Council, told newsmen in Gashua on Sunday that the shortage of rainfall had completely dried up the Hadeija-Jama’are river.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the river had been the place where the affected people conduct their activities, especially during the dry season.

The council chairman said the river had overflowed initially when the rainfall started but later dried up due to the sudden cessation of the rains.

He said majority of youth who depend on the river as the source of their livelihood through irrigation, fishing and other commercial activities, would now have nothing to do. 

“From all indication, our teeming youths who depends on the river for rice production, fishery and other commercial activities are likely to be without jobs,” Suleiman said. 

He said Bade was one of the hubs of rice and fishery production in the country, generating revenue to the state and the country in the process.

“I wish to therefore call on the state and federal governments to intervene so as to salvage the youths from restiveness and the area from imminent food shortage,” Suleiman said. 

He said the affected people had already informed officials of the Public Complaints Commission (PCC).

The council chairman said the officials had inspected the area with a view to channeling their complaints to the federal government for assistance.

He also spoke on the council’s efforts in meeting the needs of the people, saying it had earmarked N13.5 million to drill and renovate 15 boreholes in 10 wards within the area. 

“We have in addition renovated three primary schools within Gashua town, while four others will be on added in December,” he said.